Sunderland's dismal Premier League run now stands at one win in 14
after they were held to a lacklustre 0-0 draw by visiting Stoke on
Monday.
The Potters had the better of the chances, with former Black
Cat Dean Whitehead twice going close, but the hosts had a strong
penalty appeal for handball turned down after an hour.
Whitehead was lucky to get away with just a caution after
kicking out at Lee Cattermole in the first half, but neither side
truly deserved three points.
In just the third minute, good work from Tuncay and slack
defending from Sunderland allowed Whitehead to break through on
goal.
The midfielder should have done much better with the space he
had but Craig Gordon smothered well.
Matt Kilgallon was coping well under the high ball on his
home debut, while at the other end visiting captain Abdoulaye Faye
produced a fine tackle to quiet an early Sunderland attack.
Kenwyne Jones forced Thomas Sorensen into action in the 10th
minute after Michael Turner nodded Andy Reid's free-kick into his
path, but there was not enough power on the shot.
Sunderland were starting to settle and Steed Malbranque
fizzed an effort just wide of the post before Ryan Shawcross was
forced into a smart clearance.
Faye went down injured after 15 minutes and could not
continue. Andy Wilkinson was sent on his place and also took the
armband.
Cattermole attempted to start a quick Sunderland
counter-attack in the 22nd minute but Salif Diao was on hand with
the saving challenge.
John Mensa almost played Stoke in after dallying on the right
touchline but he made amends by dispossessing Glenn Whelan.
Cattermole was doing well in the centre for Sunderland but
there was little craft from either side to match his energy.
A clever dummy from Darren Bent in the 31st minute gave
Malbranque the chance to test Sorensen, but having taken the ball
down neatly his shot lacked venom.
Jones twice felt he had been held in the penalty area but
referee Howard Webb was unmoved, despite the crowd's protests.
Webb was under the spotlight again when he, perhaps
leniently, handed Whitehead a booking for kicking out at Cattermole
following a heavy tackle.
Two minutes after the restart Stoke had two fine chances in
quick succession.
First Mamady Sidibe almost converted following a chipped
Whelan free-kick, then Whitehead attempted to drill home the loose
ball only for Mensah to deflect it over the crossbar from
point-blank range.
Whitehead continued to keep his old team busy though and
Kilgallon produced a perfectly-timed slide to halt his 50th-minute
run.
Steve Bruce's side hit back on the break five minutes later,
when Jones freed Bent with a weighted pass that caught Stoke cold.
The England striker chased down the ball at the byline but
the Potters rallied well to clear his cross.
Bent also had a strong penalty appeal turned down after 61
minutes when Robert Huth appeared to stop his lofted pass with his
arm.
With 21 minutes left Bruce called on Bolo Zenden and Fraizer
Campbell, with Reid and Malbranque making way.
A skiddy Zenden corner caused panic in the Stoke area three
minutes after his arrival, but there were no red and white shirts
on hand to poke home the loose ball.
Stoke substitute Rory Delap also did well seconds afterwards,
heading Etherington's deep ball across goal where Gordon claimed.
The Irishman then had the chance to send in a trademark long
throw but Jones rose well to clear.
A sprinting Ricardo Fuller almost broke the deadlock with
nine minutes to play but Gordon stood firm to parry, while Huth
headed wide from a 90th-minute corner.
