Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia says he is happy with his side's second-half response to pick up a valuable point away at Middlesbrough.
The Black Cats came from a goal down to snag a share of the points and Sbragia praised his team's fight and determination.
He said: "I am definitely happy with a point, especially because we were 1-0 down.
"We got caught a minute before half-time, and we asked them to up the tempo and play a little bit more in their half.
"But I am pleased that we are leaving Middlesbrough unbeaten."
The visitors had chances to win the match, having Andy Reid's header cleared off the line and Djibril Cisse's last-gasp shot blocked on the edge of the box.
Sbragia added: "The linesman has obviously got bodies in front of him and there was a post there. I mean we obviously think it was a goal, but he never gave it and that's that as far as we are concerned.
"We pushed on the last ten minutes and look to try and get a winner and we had to be careful we didn't get caught on the counter attack.
"Overall I thought the players were excellent and the second-half performance was much better.
"Cisse did what he thinks is right - there are a thousand and one other things you think he could probably have done, but he has tried to hit it and the defender has done his job.
"I think at the end of the day, a draw is probably a fair result."
Sunderland dominated possession for much of the second half without creating too many clear-cut chances and Sbragia said substitutes Andy Reid and David Healy added a new dimension to their attacking play.
The Black Cats' boss said Diouf got the nod to start the match because of his strong FA cup performance, but he said Healy in particular had impressed in training.
"Diouf played exceptionally well in the cup and I thought I would try to keep it as close as I could to the same team," Sbragia said.
"But David [Healy] has been excellent with his attitude in training and he deserved to come on."
Sbragia says he will now turn his attention to the rest of the season, starting with the January transfer window and then looking to improve Sunderland's league position.
"We have made one or two or three or four signings, but unfortunately for me the window has come a little bit early - I could really do with it two months later but we just have to get on with it.
"We have enquired about a couple of players, but I have a good squad and I don't want to lose them. I've emphasised that many a time.
"It might be a case of I might not bring anyone in, but we've still got a lot of time in the window and we'll make that decision when it comes.
"There are a lot of teams down there, but a couple of wins puts us up the league.
"We got a good, valuable point today. If we had lost Middlesbrough would have gone above us but we have kept that gap of two points"
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