Sunderland 0-0 Bristol City: Robins grateful to Max O'Leary as they earn point
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Max O'Leary was Bristol City's hero as he kept out a number of good Sunderland efforts
Bristol City goalkeeper Max O'Leary ensured his side came away from Sunderland with a point as they drew 0-0 in the Championship.
The Robins needed a string of fine saves from O'Leary to stay level at the break and Sunderland's Adil Aouchiche headed against the bar.
The Black Cats hit the bar again with 17 minutes to go through a Bradley Dack header and could not find a way past the Robins goalkeeper.
A point apiece keeps sees both sides stay in the places they started the day in, with City 12th and Sunderland two points behind them in 13th in the Championship table.
Having been thrashed 5-1 at home by Blackburn in midweek, Sunderland interim boss Mike Dodds made three changes to his side.
It seemed to have the desired effect as Sunderland started strongly, with O'Leary forced into a superb save from a ninth-minute Dan Ballard header from a corner while Trai Hume felt he was fouled in the box by Cameron Pring three minutes later, but the referee waved away the penalty claim.
City were grateful to O'Leary once again when he produced a fine 34th-minute double save to deny Jobe Bellingham and Jack Clarke.
He then brilliantly kept out Dan Neil two minutes later before Aouchiche headed the follow-up onto the bar.
But Sunderland had to be thankful to Luke O'Nien just before the break as the defender cleared Scott Twine's effort off the line after good work by the recalled Robins striker Nahki Wells.
Dack crashed a header off the bar as the second half became more scrappy, while soon after O'Leary was again there to keep the Robins in the game as he saved with his legs from Bellingham.
Sunderland interim head coach Mike Dodds told BBC Radio Newcastle:
"We had 20 shots on goal. If their goalkeeper isn't man of the match I'll be amazed.
"It was a much more positive reaction to the previous game which psychologically for the group is really important because that last game was completely unacceptable.
"I'm disappointed because I think we deserved to win the game.
"That should be three points and I think the goalkeeper has earned a point for Bristol there."
Bristol City head coach Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol:
"I'm probably more pleased with the outcome than the performance. I thought we showed a different side to us today.
"That wasn't free-flowing and we had to show a level of resilience, grit, fight, and the conditions I thought made the game extremely difficult."
On Max O'Leary's performance: "I thought he was outstanding today. We got away with a point mainly because of him.
"I lost count of how many top saves he made so I'm delighted for him and I'm delighted he's got another clean sheet.
"It's been a long time coming. Previous to the last four, we've not had loads so it's great now that it's four out of five clean sheets."