Sunderland had to settle for a point against Fulham on Saturday afternoon after playing out a boring goalless draw at the SOL. I’d put money on the highlights being on last on Match of the Day, but it was such a poor spectacle that Gary Linekar and co will struggle to find any real action of note in the stalemate.

Having had what can be at best described as an indifferent start to the campaign, the next four games starting with Fulham this afternoon offered the lads an opportunity to start picking up some points and moving up the table.

The Cottagers headed north to Wearside level with us on points and boasting a poor record away from home but having hammered us 3-0 last season at the SOL and considering our poor home record this season I still wasn’t overly optimistic going into the game.

Fortunately Connor Wickham’s knee injury wasn’t as bad as first feared though he is still missing for the next few weeks or so whilst Steve Bruce was also without Seb Larsson who was suspended for the game having picked up five bookings.

With Simon Mignolet still injured Keiren Westwood continued in goal behind a back four of Phil Bardsley, Michael Turner, Wes Brown and John O’Shea. In midfield Elmo and Richardson started on the flanks with Colback and Cattermole in the engine room while Nicklas Bendtner spearheaded the attack with Sessegnon behind him in the hole. Fresh from his eleven minute hat trick against the Mags’ reserves on Wednesday night, hotshot Ryan Noble had to settle for a place on the bench.

Sunderland edged the first half in terms of possession and chances though Fulham were first to have a sight at goal with Westwood doing well to deny Dembele. We forced a couple of corners with Bardo now on set piece duty in the absence of Larsson but Fulham defended well.

Our best two chances of the first half both struck the woodwork with Richardson first heading Sessegnon’s cross onto the bar before Colback also struck the upright with a half volley.

This was about as exciting as it got first half with the only other incident of note was Lee Cattermole being booked for a tackle on the half way line though when Dickson Etuhu made a similar challenge whilst already on a yellow the ref kept his red card in his pocket. Fulham finished the first half with a bit of a flurry but good defending from Bardo denied Bobby Zamora.

You could see the game finishing nil nil a mile off and the second half didn’t disappoint with neither side forcing either keeper into meaningful action though Fulham probably created the better chances only for Danny Murphy to roll a tame shot to the hands of Westwood and Clint Dempsey scuffing a shot wide.

With twenty minutes to go Ji replaced Colback which meant Sessegnon moving to the left wing. The Benin international almost created a goal when he centred with the outside of his boot after a jinking run but no one got on the end of the cross.

That’s about as good as it got really in terms of entertainment, Michael Turner got a bloody nose and Ryan Noble came on with five minutes to go but never got a sniff. We did force Mark Schwarzer into a save at the death with Sessegnon's deflected shot almost sneaking in but the Australian did well clearing with his leg after already diving to his left.

So yet again we fail to win at home against mediocre opposition.

Final Score: Sunderland 0 Fulham 0

ALS Man of the Match: Stephane Sessegnon

Aidan Crowe

ALS T Shirts click here