Premier League - Sunderland and Crystal Palace's relegation clash ends in stalemate
Sunderland celebrate Craig Gardner's goal against Southampton (Reuters)
Premier League, Stadium of Light - Sunderland 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
It was billed as a classic relegation six-pointer, but Sunderland and Crystal Palace shared two points and little changed at the foot of the Premier League.
This was a scrappy affair befitting of a bottom of the table dust-up. There were niggly fouls and clumsy tussles galore as eight yellow cards were brandished by referee Neil Swarbrick.
Sunderland dominated the game, looking to attack down the flanks with Marcos Alonso bombing forward down the left and Adam Johnson and Phil Bardsley linking up nicely on the right. They failed to muster many clear-cut chances, though, and were reduced mainly to ambitious attempts on goal and a few half-hearted penalty appeals.
Both sides might have snatched it in the final ten minutes. For Sunderland, Borini sent a powerful shot against the upright and saw a curling effort fly inches over the bar in the space of a minute.
Kagisho Dikgacoi then spurned a glorious chance for Palace, lashing wide when the ball fell to him inside the box.
In a game in which there was so much at stake, you sense that ‘not losing’ was the priority, which resulted in a clear lack of ambition. Neither side made a significant stride towards safety today, but both averted disaster and the relegation scrap continues.
TALKING POINT
So much for the 'decisive' six pointer: This game was meant to be decisive in the fight for survival. Neither side, though, shook off the fear of defeat or showed the courage needed to seize the three points. You wonder whether ambition or conservatism will be the winning attitude in this relegation scrap.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Adam Johnson (Sunderland): In a game which was so scrappy, tense and awash with fouls, it is difficult to pick out a star player. Johnson looked very lively for Sunderland, providing skilful touches and linking up regularly with Phil Bardsley to create chances down the right hand side. He’ll be a key figure in Sunderland’s fight to stay up.
PLAYER RATINGS
Sunderland: Mannone 7, Bardsley 7, Alonso 7, O'Shea (c) 6, Brown 6, Bridcutt 6, Ki 6, Larsson 5, Johnson 8, Borini 7, Fletcher 5 ... Subs: Gardner 5, Altidore 5, Scocco 5.
Crystal Palace: Speroni 7, Mariappa 5, Dann 5, Delaney 6, Ward 6, Bolasie 6, Digkacoi 5, Jedinak 5, Ledley 6, Ince 5, Murray 4... Subs: Guedioura 5, Puncheon 4, Jerome 5.