Sunderland were unable to make their chances count as they were held to a goalless draw by Blackpool at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats were the better side in the first half but were unable to convert their dominance into goals, with Elliot Embleton going closest when he clipped the bar early on.
In the second period, Blackpool were in the ascendancy and it took a string of excellent stops from Anthony Patterson to preserve his clean sheet. Both sides had chances, and Sunderland could have won it in injury time only for Jack Clarke to see his header saved by Chris Maxwell.
It was a second successive goalless draw for Sunderland, following Saturday's stalemate on Wearside against Preston, although it did extend their unbeaten run to three games. Tony Mowbray's side moved up one place to seventh in the Championship table, while Blackpool stay 19th.
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Here's how James Hunter rated the Sunderland players.
Anthony Patterson 8
Made a string of saves in the second half to earn his side a point
Lynden Gooch 6
Had a good first half, but gave the ball away too many times in the second
Luke O'Nien 7
Some crucial blocks and interventions from the centre-back
Danny Batth 7
Strong in the air at the heart of defence
Aji Alese 8
Another excellent display at left-back, and he is not afraid to get forward
Patrick Roberts 7
Did everything he could to unpick the Blackpool defence, and in the end they had to foul him to stop him
Elliot Embleton 7
Offered a threat and clipped the bar in the first half
Corry Evans 7
Used his experience and controlled the midfield
Jack Clarke 8
Sunderland's greatest attacking threat, and he brought two excellent saves out of Maxwell
Amad Diallo 6
Some neat touches but no end product and was too easily knocked off the ball
Alex Pritchard 6
Did OK up front, but has had better games
Subs
Jewison Bennette 7
For Amad 58mins. His pace down the left was an asset, and he set up a late chance for Clarke
Dan Neil 6
For Evans 67mins. Fresh legs in the middle of the park
Abdoullah Ba 6
For Embleton 67mins. Gave Sunderland a different option in midfield
Edouard Michut N/A
For Pritchard 76mins.
Leon Dajaku N/A
For Roberts 76mins.
Not used: Bass, Wright
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