SAM Allardyce hailed "the master" Youri Djorkaeff after seeing his French wizard conjure up a point from nowhere.

The Reebok boss felt his side deserved a point for their character and determination but acknowledged they needed a slice of luck and a super show from keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen as well as a world class goal to get it."

He said: "It was an important point. To go 1-0 down anywhere in the Premiership and get something out of the game is an achievement.

"It was a scrappy goal to give away but we came back from it well.

"I had to change the system and personnel a couple of times because I felt we were becoming too predictable and then the master came up with a masterful finish.

"No disrespect to any of the other players but Youri was the only player on the pitch who could have produced that goal.

"Before that we had had a bit of luck when Mike Whitlow slipped over and presented them with a golden opportunity which they missed.

"We got away with it and Youri popped up with that brilliant goal."

Allardyce was also grateful to his goalkeeper who made a string of excellent saves to keep his side in the game.

"Jussi Jaaskelainen is doing that on a regular basis at the moment. He is back on song I am glad to say.

"He has been very good for the last few weeks after a spell when he was not as sharp as he has been. Now he is right back on top form.

"Kevin Poole's good performance at Sunderland in the FA Cup keeps him on his toes.

"He made some great saves and kept us in the game.

"Our problem is that victory is continuing to elude us," he said.

"We were strong and resilient but we have to start putting the goals away and start winning at the Reebok."

And with the transfer window drawing to a close he said: "I have to bring in someone to score the goals to turn draws into victories and defeats into draws because we should have beaten a lot of teams we have either drawn with or lost to because we couldn't score."