Sunderland 0 Stoke City 0: match report

01 February 2010 22:03
When Niall Quinn brought Steve Bruce to the Stadium of Light last summer he was charged with the responsibility of averting another relegation battle but the Sunderland chairman must now be braced for another nerve-jangling fight for survival.[LNB]Just a few months ago they were dreaming of bringing European football to Wearside but this stalemate means that Bruce's charges have taken just four points from the last 30 available despite heavy investment by club owner Ellis Short.[LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League actionPremier League tableTelegraph player raterTransfer deadline day as it happenedPremier League transfersSport on televisionIt all means that Bruce's side sit perilously above the relegation zone with the former Manchester United captain facing arguably the greatest challenge of his managerial career, with Saturday's visit of Wigan now assuming even greater importance.[LNB]The pessimism could have been replaced by optimism had Howard Webb awarded Sunderland a clear-cut penalty but when your luck is out it really it out and that must be a concern for everyone concerned with Sunderland.[LNB]With just one win on their travels this term, Stoke should have provided ideal opposition especially when Abdoulaye Faye was forced off with a back problem but Sunderland were unable to build up a head of steam because they relied too much on long-ball tactics.[LNB]After a bright start Sunderland had to wait until the half-hour before their next attempt on goal when Steed Malbranque had a left-footer comfortably saved by Thomas Sorensen after Darren Bent dummied Andy Reid's cross.[LNB]The Sunderland camp were left feeling aggrieved when Dean Whitehead was mighty lucky to escape with a caution by Webb as he kicked out at Lee Cattermole following a typically meaty challenge.[LNB]It was only a matter of time before Cattermole gained retribution on Whitehead and he followed him into the book with a wild lunge just before half-time.[LNB]Stoke City, who know a thing or two about long-ball stuff themselves, started the second half as they did the first by nearly breaking the deadlock when Glenn Whelan's free-kick caused consternation in the Sunderland defence and Mamady Sidibé had a shot blocked before Whitehead saw his goal-bound effort diverted to safety.[LNB]The sense of local injustice turned to indignation when Webb erred by declining to award Sunderland a penalty on the hour when Robert Huth was guilty of a blatant handball when he deliberately handled on the edge of the penalty box when he was cleverly turned by Bent.[LNB]Sunderland huffed and puffed but continued to play into Stoke's hands with direct tactics that are not as refined as those employed to such great effect by Tony Pulis's team who could easily have grabbed all three points when Ricardo Fuller set his sights on goal only to have his shot saved by Craig Gordon before Huth nodded Whelan's corner just wide.[LNB]It made for a nerve-racking evening for Quinn who was joined in the directors box by Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore but was surely a taste of things to come.[LNB]Boos rang out around the ground but it was difficult to know whether the object of ire was Webb or the players and the route one tactics each team stuck to so doggedly.[LNB]

Source: Telegraph