Missed chances equalled frustration. A missed opportunity bred disappointment.
Sunderland left Lincoln with a strong sense of what could have been. In a match they dominated, they were unable to find a finish and were held to a goalless draw.
The post denied Corry Evans, Jack Clarke sent three chances narrowly wide, and only a stunning save prevented Ross Stewart scoring an injury-time winner. And on a day when play-off rivals Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, and Wycombe Wanderers all dropped points, Sunderland were unable to take advantage and press their case for a top six finish.
Yet Sunderland were applauded off at Sincil Bank by the vast majority of the 2,000 fans who made the trip from the North East and who basked in the sun on what was the hottest day of the year so far. Because, result notwithstanding, Sunderland's performance was anything but disappointing - on the contrary, it was full of promise, and if they continue playing to this level in the remaining seven games they should have no problem clinching a play-off spot.
Clarke offered a threat, Patrick Roberts shone in the role of creator-in-chief in what was his first full 90 minutes for the club, and the Black Cats looked defensively sound as they clocked up their fourth clean sheet in five games with Anthony Patterson's only real test coming in the final ten minutes when he made a fine reaction save from Liam Cullen. The problem, of course, was that on the eve of the match Alex Neil had said Sunderland needed to prioritise 'substance over style' - or, if you prefer, points over performances - in the remaining games to achieve the immediate goal of securing a play-off place.
At Lincoln there was plenty of style, but the substance was lacking. In many ways, it was a repeat of Sunderland's last away game at Charlton, when again they were the better side, again they created more than enough chances to win, but again they were held to a goalless draw and ended up with a single point rather than all three.
Contrast that with the last two home games against Fleetwood Town and Crewe Alexandra, which both featured far less impressive performances but which yielded maximum points. Those displays on Wearside might have been unconvincing at times, with Sunderland leaving it late in both games and having to come from behind to win against Fleetwood, but in the current circumstances they need more games like those rather than the better spectacles of their last two road trips.
Despite the dropped points this weekend, Sunderland at least extended their unbeaten run to six games, and the fact that they remained sixth in the table indicated that the harm done to their play-off chances was limited. Third-placed MK Dons won but are well clear of the Black Cats, while Plymouth leapfrogged Oxford to go fourth, with the U's dropping to fifth.
Below Sunderland, the next four clubs in the table - Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe, Ipswich, and Portsmouth - all drew and therefore gained no ground.
So Sunderland's draw did no real damage. It was just a missed opportunity.
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