Sunderland 0-0 Blackpool: Black Cats held again at home
- Published
- comments
Sunderland have won only of their six home matches at the Stadium of Light this season
Sunderland endured a second goalless draw at the Stadium of Light in three days as the points were shared between them and Blackpool.
Jack Clarke was closest for them in the first half and right at the death with a header which forced a wonder save from Blackpool goalkeeper Chris Maxwell.
But it is now just one home victory in six games for the Black Cats since their return to the Championship as they moved up to seventh.
Blackpool ended a run of three straight defeats and forced Anthony Patterson into a number of saves after the break as they remain in 19th.
Sunderland have found home wins hard to come by but they made most of the running against the Seasiders.
Elliot Embleton hit the crossbar with a curling effort while Clarke was twice close to an opening goal.
First, his drive was pushed behind by Maxwell and then, after a jinking run into the area, he lost composure at the key moment and shot over.
At the other end, Blackpool's best moment had come when Callum Connolly flashed an effort wide after finding himself in the box.
Michael Appleton's visitors were unlucky not to go in front early in the second half as Patterson saved excellently from Connolly and then parried a header from Charlie Wright, with another save from a Marvin Ekpiteta header.
It was a sixth game out of 12 league games in which the Seasiders have failed to score, but they were indebted to Maxwell for preserving a point in injury time with his superb save to keep out Clarke's header.
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Newcastle:
"The level we want to play at is what you saw first half. Playing the ball forward, driving beyond, getting into space, putting the ball into the box.
"Is it right to say we ran out of legs second half? The intensity wasn't there out of possession to win the ball back and give us the impetus to do what we can do well.
"You then hope the changes can spark it up but they didn't really do that tonight."
Blackpool manager Michael Appleton told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"First half, we were a little bit tentative and showed them too much respect. We came together as a group at half-time and recognised what was needed and, second half, we were outstanding.
"At one point, I felt like we were the home team and I was just waiting for the net to bulge. The only problem is our chances were falling to defenders or midfielders not used to scoring goals.
"But the pleasing thing is we played Norwich on Saturday and played well and created as many chances as we did and then we were able to back it up in the space of three days and be more than a match for Sunderland."