Sunderland 0-0 Queens Park Rangers: Black Cats end six-game losing run with draw against Championship strugglers
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Sunderland and QPR played out a 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light
Sunderland ended a six-game losing streak in the Championship with a 0-0 draw against strugglers QPR.
The visitors pushed for a winner late on as Black Cats goalkeeper Anthony Patterson stopped efforts from Sinclair Armstrong and Chris Willock.
Willock had earlier saw a cross-turned-shot hit the crossbar in a game of few chances.
But neither side could make the breakthrough as the points were shared at the Stadium of Light.
The Hoops remain a point clear of the relegation places with eight games left of the season, while Sunderland, who are without since beating Plymouth on 10 February - are 12th.
QPR made the better start of the two sides, but it was Adil Aouchiche whose cross clipped the away side's crossbar early on.
Lucas Andersen almost caught Patterson off his line, but the Potters keeper was able to scramble the ball away, before Ilias Chair shot wide for the R's in the first half.
Patterson was again called into action as QPR made the bigger push for a much-needed three points, but substitute Sinclair and Willock were unable to find a way through.
The Londoners remain two places clear of the relegation places after fellow relegation scrappers Birmingham, Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday all dropped points.
Sunderland boss Mike Dodds:
"People are going to say it's a point and it stops the chain of events we've had for the last six games, but the performance I was really disappointed with.
"Both first half and second half I felt we huffed and puffed but had no real quality in the game.
"I've got to keep working with them, they're a group that need help. A large part of that responsibility is myself.
"I think you will naturally get some help when you get bodies back, but I thought that was a real naive performance."
QPR boss Marti Cifuentes:
"The game was more or less what we wanted, we didn't allow Sunderland to get a shot on goal for 95 minutes.
"I don't think we created as much as we would have liked, but maybe enough to get a goal, or two goals. I think Patterson was great in saving two situations.
"(They were) very good saves, but overall very disappointed about not getting the victory."