That has sealed it for Sunderland but Boro will feel hard done by and don't deserve to lose this 2-0

Three minutes of stoppage time are added

Nosworthy has blocked two good efforts from Boro now late on

Taylor's effort is blocked again by Nosworthy as Boro do all they can to find an equaliser but time is running out

Chopra almost makes it 2-0 but his header saved well by Turnbull

Nosworthy blocks Taylor's close-range effort

It looked a harsh decision for the pen but Boro wasted it anyway

Downing blasts a penalty over the bar after Aliadiere is fouled in the box. Wonderful chance of a goal wasted by the Boro winger

Richardson's drive is superbly tipped over by Turnbull. Both keepers have made great saves to keep the score 0-0

Chopra's shot is wide before Downing's effort at the other end is well blocked - the game seems to be opening up

A mistake in the Boro defence presents Cisse with a great chance but somehow the visitors clear it off the line

Malbranque's strike is comfortable for Turnbull, an hour gone at the Stadium of Light and still it's goalless

Ferdinand was forced off for treatment after picking up a knock but he's back on the pitch now

Sunderland break forward through Chopra, who's been lively since coming on, and he finds Richardson but the midfielder's shot is high over the bar

Alves is again denied by another good save from Gordon

Chimbonda almost gets on the end of a loose ball at the other end but Robert Huth defends well to deny him

Pascal Chimbonda is forced to turn the ball behind for a corner as Boro attack again

Cisse's cross-shot flies well over the bar

Aliadiere turns and shoots but his shot is weak and it's easy for Gordon

Cisse shoots low but Turnbull is behind it

Approaching half time and Boro will be disappointed not to be in front

Alves calls Gordon into action again as the Sunderland keeper makes another fine save

Kieran Richardson has a shot blocked by Huth, better from the home side

Cisse fires the ball across the face of the box but it's cleared well by Wheater

Boro have been impressive so far while the Black Cats' performance can be described as scrappy at best

Malbranque works a bit of space well and then tries to thread the ball through for Cisse but Turnbull comes out to gather

Wheater fouls Malbranque but is not booked. He could have easily been shown a yellow for that

Downing's cross is met by Aliadiere but he directs the ball wide. Another decent opening for Boro though

Cisse heads the ball goalwards from Steed Malbranque's cross but Ross Turnbull saves well - the Sunderland striker was offside anyway

Cisse is looking Sunderland's best outlet as he sees his shot deflected wide

The visitors are much the better side and that Downing effort was the best chance of the game so far

Alves' initial shot is blocked before Downing forces Craig Gordon into a fine save with the rebound

Adam Johnson wins a free-kick on the left as Boro continue to look the more likely scorers

Boro have had the better of the game so far but they haven't really been able to carve out any decent chances

El Hadji Diouf does well for Sunderland and wins a corner but Boro manage to clear

Alves manages to work a bit of space in the box but is eventually crowded out

Djibril Cisse pulls a shot wide from distance at the other end

Alves wins a corner after Ferdinand puts the ball behind but Boro can't make anything of it

Jeremie Aliadiere's shot is blocked as Boro make the early running in the game

Stewart Downing gets a bit of space down the left but his cross is poor

Didier Digard fires the first shot on goal from the edge of the area but it's over the bar

It's been a tentative opening to the game but it's a decent atmosphere inside the stadium