"?Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce was left bemused after his side had two goals disallowed, leaving the Black Cats to settle for just a point at Vicarage Road, following their pulsating 2-2 draw with Watford.
The Wearside club managed to send bitter rivals Newcastle United down to the Championship with a game to spare, but Allardyce was still not content with just a point, despite guaranteeing top flight status for another season.
Speaking to "?Sky Sports, he said: "The game was taken from us by some very dubious decisions by all three officials with the two (disallowed) goals and the penalty.
"It is a good job there was actually nothing riding on the game for us because it would have been horrendous to watch that and look at those decisions and say 'is that the reason why we got relegated today?' It could have easily been that way but it wasn't and we played exceptionally well with a team that was made of squad players and young players.
REACTION: @OfficialBigSam pleased with performances in draw at @WatfordFC - https://t.co/rrw2Dz8EWa pic.twitter.com/korZIALOoJ
"Overall, with the chances we created, we probably deserved to win but because of the decisions by the officials, we had that win taken away from us. One defeat in 11 games on the run-in since the turn of the year and 12 points in the last six games - it bodes well for us hopefully for the start of next season."
Sunderland ended the 2015/16 Premier League campaign in 17th place, two points ahead of the Magpies, who defeated Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at St James Park to end their campaign with a win.
NEW ERA: @GHoneyman10 and @TommyRobbo1 take it all in after making their @premierleague debuts. Well done Lads! pic.twitter.com/nRFwN2r391
Allardyce has done well since replacing Dick Advocaat earlier this season and achieved his objective by securing top flight football for yet another season at the Stadium of Light. He will now be hoping to strengthen over the summer to avoid another relegation dogfight next year.