Sunderland drew a blank for a second consecutive game as they were held to a draw by Blackpool at the Stadium of Light. With Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms still sidelined, the Black Cats' lack of strikers was once again be the post-match talking point as they failed to convert the chances they created.
One-time Blackpool loanee Elliot Embleton hit the woodwork in the first half and Jack Clarke drew a fine save out of visiting keeper Chris Maxwell in injury-time but - just as against Preston on Saturday - they were held to a goalless stalemate on home turf. Sunderland were much the better side in the first half and penned Blackpool in for long periods.
But the visitors came out reinvigorated after the break and only a string of saves from Anthony Patterson kept his side in the game. The draw extends Sunderland's unbeaten run to three games and lifted them one place to seventh in the Championship table, while Blackpool remain 19th.
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Tony Mowbray made one change to the side that started Saturday's goalless draw at home to Preston, with on-loan Manchester United forward Amad Diallo handed his first start for the club with Dan Neil dropping to the bench. He also brought on summer signing Edouard Michut for his debut in the latter part of the game as Sunderland searched in vain for a goal.
Blackpool boss Michael Appleton made three changes, in his case to the side that lost 1-0 at home to Norwich City on Saturday. In came Callum Connolly, Gary Madine, and Shayne Lavery, in place of Theo Corbeanu, Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel, and Ian Poveda.
Sunderland dominated the first half in terms of possession, territory, and shots, but too often lacked either a finish or a quality final ball. Aji Alese got in behind the visitors' defence early on, forcing Maxwell to parry his cross to safety.
And just before the quarter-hour, Embleton received the ball just inside the left corner of the box and turned before trying to pick out the far top corner, but his curling effort clipped the top of the bar on its way over. Alex Pritchard brought a comfortable save out of Maxwell from range, but just after the half-hour the keeper had to come up with a much better top to tip Clarke's goalbound effort wide.
Patrick Roberts created a chance for Amad when he slipped the ball through for the forward, but Amad took too long to get a shot away and was eventually tackled inside the box. In injury-time at the end of the first half, Clarke picked up the ball midway inside the Blackpool half on the left and embarked on a mazy run and then twisted this way and that inside the area, only to see his shot deflected wide for a corner.
Blackpool's only effort of any note in the first period came from Connolly on 20 minutes, who sent a low shot a yard wide after Sunderland had failed to clear when a free-kick came into the box. If the first half belonged to Sunderland, the early part of the second period was all Blackpool.
Patterson was called upon to save from a Connolly header as the visitors threatened from a corner, with Marvin Ekpiteta's follow-up shot deflected wide. Then from another corner, Callum Wright's near-post header was pushed away one-handed by Patterson.
And then shortly before the hour, Jerry Yates' cross from the right had Patterson backpedalling but he managed to fingertip it onto the bar and over. Patterson also made a couple of routine saves from long-range efforts as Blackpool peppered his goal.
Ten minutes from time, Connolly should have put Blackpool in front when uncertain defending from Sunderland gave him a chance, but he headed wide from only eight yards out. But Sunderland could have won it in added time when sub Jewison Bennette crossed from inside the box on the left for Clarke, only for his header to bring a magnificent reflex save out of Maxwell.
How they lined up
Sunderland: Patterson, Gooch, O'Nien, Batth, Alese, Roberts (Dajaku 76), Embleton (Ba 67), Evans (Neil 67), Clarke, Amad (Bennette 58), Pritchard (Michut 76). Subs not used: Bass, Wright
Booked: Michut
Blackpool: Maxwell, Connolly, Ekpiteta, Thorniley, Thompson, Wright, Dougall, Patino, Lavery (Corbeanu 66), Madine (Poveda 85), Yates. Subs not used: Grimshaw, Carney, Hamilton, Garbutt, Bridcutt
Booked: Patino, Thorniley, Dougall
Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire)
Attendance: 35,00
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