Sunderland 0-0 West Bromwich Albion

Sunderland have won just one Premier League game at home since 4 October

• Sunderland record 13th PL draw of season

• Poyet's side had lost previous two games

• West Brom unbeaten in four matches

• Lescott escapes with early booking

Sunderland remain in Premier League relegation trouble following boss Gus Poyet's unity call as fellow strugglers West Brom held them to a dire draw.

Albion defender Joleon Lescott escaped with a booking after appearing to commit a professional foul on striker Danny Graham in the fifth minute.

Sunderland winger Adam Johnson had a goal ruled out for offside, and Seb Larsson was denied by Ben Foster.

The West Brom keeper made a second-half save from Connor Wickham's header.

The stalemate leaves the Black Cats 16th, three points above the relegation zone, while West Brom are five points off the bottom three.

Poyet wrote an open letter to his club's fans during the week appealing for them to "stay positive" in the face of a poor run that had brought just one league win since Christmas.

His side at least showed more spirit than they did in losing their last Premier League game at home to relegation rivals Queens Park Rangers and in going out of the FA Cup at League One side Bradford City.

But their build-up play was often too slow against a Baggies side who seemed content to eke out a point.

Tony Pulis has suffered just one defeat in the 10 matches since he was appointed Albion boss on 1 January, and his men absorbed the home side's pressure without too much difficulty.

West Brom did get a couple of lucky breaks in the first half, however, with Lescott only cautioned by referee Mike Jones after dragging down Graham, who was racing clear on to Lee Cattermole's pass.

Johnson then had a goal ruled out for offside by assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis just before half-time, when television replays suggested the Sunderland winger was level as he collected Ricky Alvarez's diagonal right-wing cross.

Jermain Defoe whizzed a shot across goal and Foster made a flying save from Larsson in a first half more notable for its physical confrontations - with Albion midfielder Claudio Yacob lucky to escape punishment for shoving Defoe to the ground as they waited for a Johnson corner.

The second half was hardly any better, with Sunderland's best chances coming from corners. Santiago Vergini headed wide a Larsson delivery amid more pushing and shoving in the penalty area, while substitute Connor Wickham turned Johnson's ball straight at Foster.

Albion's keeper was not troubled after that, and Poyet's side were unable to fashion just a third home league win of the season.

Gus Poyet wrote an open letter to fans appealing for unity before the game

Seb Larsson was unable to add to the three goals he has scored for Sunderland this season

Jermain Defoe had a couple of first-half tangles with West Brom midfielder Claudio Yacob at set-pieces

West Brom striker Brown Ideye - with four goals in his previous three matches - was largely kept quiet