Match Report: Sunderland AFC 0-0 QPR
Sunderland’s six-match losing run is over after Mike Dodds claimed his first point in his third interim stint in charge with a goalless draw at home to QPR on Saturday afternoon.
The Black Cats failed to register a shot on target throughout the 90 minutes, and were thankful for Anthony Patterson for some match-saving stops to deny Marti Cifuentes’ side a pivotal three points in their battle to escape the drop.
Dodds made three changes from the side that lost 4-2 to Southampton, with Luis Hemir starting in attack ahead of Mason Burstow, whilst Adil Aouchiche and Callum Styles replaced Chris Rigg and the injured Jenson Seelt, who will miss the remainder of the season with a knee problem.
It was the away side who started off the more threatening, and saw the majority of the early chances as Ilais Chair’s effort was deflected just wide of the left post, before Lucas Andersen’s shot from just outside of the penalty area, after a stray Dan Ballard pass was cut out, was stopped by the diving Patterson.
The Black Cats were struggling to carve out any clear-cut chances, and as has been a similar problem for weeks, their attacking threat was limited.
The audacious chance from Dan Neil, as he attempted to lob Asmir Begovic from just past the halfway line, was arguably the closest that the home side came within the first 45, but the ball nestled on the roof of the net.
In the second half, substitute Sinclair Armstrong proved a handful for the Sunderland backline, as he dropped in behind on numerous occasions, but twice was denied by Patterson.
The best opportunity of the game, however, fell to Chris Willock, brother of Newcastle’s Joe, after some hard-work from Armstrong to break away from Ballard, but his cut-back seemed a simple tap-in for Willock – only to be denied by the Sunderland goalkeeper.
Dodds’ side pushed towards the end for a winner, but Ballard’s header was too weak and had no direction, as the Black Cats now head into the international break with their winless run prolonged to seven matches.
