Sunderland 0, Blackburn 0

Sunderland were the better team in the nil nil draw this boxing day when Blackburn Rovers were the visitors. However both teams had chances and a win could have just as easily been on the cards for either team. The Black Cats on sportnetwork Man of the Match went to Martin Fulop as he made some crucial potential game winning saves that in the end earned Sunderland a point.

With Craig Gordon out injured Martin Fulop has been Sunderlands number 1 and has recorded two clean sheets in his last three starts.

Fulop made a great save from a free kick on the edge of his eighteen yard box diving acrobatically to his left hand side to turn the ball round his post.

Sunderland's fans turned up hoping to see the Black Cats continue in their rich vein of form in front of goal.

But Ricky Sbragia's men misfired on a frustrating day for a big Boxing Day crowd of 44,680.

The Black Cats had scored eight goals in their previous two fixtures to bring renewed hope to Wearside following Roy Keane's departure.

Sbragia, however, had warned that a repeat was unlikely and he was right. The Wearsiders were lucky to gain a point in this one.

Sunderland's Steed Malbranque had another good game but could not find the net from a similar position to that wonder goal he scored at the KC Stadium against Hull.

Striker Jason Roberts missed a sitter in injury time to deny Rovers a second successive win under Sam Allardyce.

Sunderland were decent in possession but lacked a threat in front of goal - it was the away side that created the best opportunities.

Phil Bardsley went closest for the Black Cats in a first half of few chances, with a left-foot effort that flashed just wide. It quickly turned into a dour battle.

Paul Robinson did not have a significant save to make until near the end when substitute Grant Leadbitter shot from distance.

Sbragia, who worked for Allardyce at Bolton, had warned that Rovers would be well organised and so they were. As they game went on, the Ewood Park club looked more likely to snatch it.

Marton Fulop was far the busier keeper, making two good saves to deny Rovers in the second half.

The game looked set to go in Rovers' favour when Roberts went clean through in stoppage time. With Fulop in no man's land, the big striker unbelievably shot wide from 16 yards.

Sunderland will hope that Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse rediscover their goal-scoring form at Everton on Sunday.

From my point of view Kenwyne had a very poor game, he just didn't look fit, was lazy and didn't really challenge for any balls played up to him. I find it very perplexing that Sbragia decided to take Cissé off rather than Jones as Cissé's pace can hurt teams, especially when they're tiring near the end of the game.