Sunderland's climb slowed by stubborn Cardiff

Sunderland 0 Cardiff City

Sunderland missed the chance to go third in the First Division last night when they were held to a frustrating goalless draw at home to Cardiff.

The Welsh team spent most of the game under pressure, particularly in the second half, but the Wearsiders failed to create a single clear-cut chance and ran out of ideas long before the end.

Although Mick McCarthy, the Sunderland manager, can point to one defeat in their last 10 League matches, they offered little in terms of quality despite enjoying the majority of possession. "We shaded the game but we didn't really create too much," McCarthy said.

"There are always going to be nights like these. Cardiff came to stifle us and did well. But we worked hard and kept going and that pleased me."

Cardiff were delighted to have arrested a recent poor run of form with a hard-earned point. "It was a good night for us and a solid, professional performance," Lennie Lawrence, the Cardiff manager, said. "We've been involved in better games this season but we've lost too many so I'm pleased with the clean sheet."

Whether playing host to Premiership or First Division football, the Stadium of Light is still an intimidating proposition for away teams. Now that some of the depression of last season has evaporated with the Black Cats finally remembering how to win - and indeed score prior to last night - the familiar raucous atmosphere has returned.

McCarthy made wholesale changes after relegation - most of them imposed on him - but for all the newly hired personnel, the attacking style, at least, remains familiar. For Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips, so long Sunderland's dangerous strike-force, read Kevin Kyle and Marcus Stewart. Both had their moments, but neither looked like scoring.

Two divisions below the home side as recently as last season, Cardiff were unsurprisingly content to sit back and allow their opponents to make the running early on. But it was 20 minutes before they were put under any pressure, with the goalkeeper Neil Alexander blocking Kyle's flick in what would prove the nearest either team came to a goal.

With his players struggling to exert any pressure, let alone create chances, McCarthy at least inspired an improvement after the break. With Jeff Whitley and John Oster prominent, they produced a higher tempo and improved distribution.

But despite Julio Arca, Oster and the substitute Tommy Smith finding excellent crossing positions, the final ball was invariably weak. "As the game wore on, they became more predictable with longer balls and we defended them well," Lawrence said.

Sunderland (4-4-2): Poom; Williams, McCartney, Breen, Arca; Oster (Proctor, 87), Healy, Whitley, Butler (T Smith, 45); Stewart (Thornton, 77), Kyle. Substitutes not used: Ingham (gk), Bjorklund.

Cardiff City (4-4-2): Alexander; Weston (Croft, 36), Vidmar, Gabbidon, Barker; Langley, Kavanagh, Boland, Robinson (Bonner, 76); Campbell (Gray, 82), Earnshaw. Substitutes not used: Margetson (gk), Prior.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).