Jobe Bellingham was sent off in Sunderland's goalless draw with QPR
Jobe Bellingham was sent off for a dangerous tackle as Championship leaders Sunderland drew 0-0 at Queens Park Rangers.
The midfielder faces a ban after being shown a straight red card by referee Ben Toner in the 58th minute.
The Black Cats were below par in west London after three straight wins, while the second-from-bottom Rs managed a second successive draw, and clean sheet, against promotion hopefuls after drawing at Burnley last week.
Sunderland's Dan Neil came closest to breaking the deadlock with a shot against the post in the first half but much-improved QPR were the better team for long periods.
Marti Cifuentes' side went into the game buoyed by the result at Turf Moor and had the better of the opening exchanges as a Paul Smyth cross found Zan Celar in front of goal, but the Slovenian got his feet in a tangle as he sought to turn it home.
Headers from Steve Cook and Jimmy Dunne also threatened to break through a Sunderland side which has the best away record in the division.
The Wearsiders had their own moments in the opening 45 minutes, as Wilson Isidor - in fine goalscoring form with four in his last six games going into the match - burst on to a cute Trai Hume pass but hurried his shot and dragged it wide.
A training-ground corner also nearly broke the stubborn QPR resistance, as Luke O'Nien, stationed beyond the far post, cleverly cushioned a header from Patrick Roberts’ deep flag kick and Neil’s shot cannoned off the upright, with Isidor unable to get his rebound shot on target.
The game turned on Bellingham's poor challenge, on the halfway line, as he planted his studs in Celar's shin. The 19-year-old instantly recognised his error with an upraised hand of apology, but ref Toner deemed it violent.
Bellingham could now miss Sunderland's trips to Preston and Millwall, and the home game against Coventry in between, if given a three-game ban.
Rangers pressed forward, sensing a chance to register only their second league win of the season, and their first at home since April, but could find no way through.
Celar went closest, carving in from the left flank to curl a shot just wide of the far post, while Dunne headed another big chance straight at keeper Simon Moore.
QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes told BBC Radio London:
"We can look at the game in two ways - we are a little bit disappointed not to score a goal and close the win we are really looking for, but the positive is that we played a good level against a very high level team that is top of the table for good reasons.
"We had many good performances from individual players, and it is a third game unbeaten and second clean sheet.
[On the man advantage] "Experience tells you that it wouldn't be easy. The stadium demands and the momentum demands you score in every action and it's not easy against a team that doesn’t concede many chances especially as they defended low.
"Jonathan Varane was really good and he and Steve Cook did really well in the centre back position."
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle:
"The clean sheet is very important because it's never easy to win a point away, especially with 10 players for 30 minutes.
"The first half was balanced with good rhythm from us when we controlled the ball, but more difficult when they played direct and we struggled to control their style of play.
[On red card] "It wasn't so violent but we need to respect the decision and I hope he will learn from the experience."
[On Chris Rigg absence] "He seems OK, and he should be back with the team next week."
