Sunderland's return to the Championship ended with the Black Cats earning a point from a hard-fought game against Coventry. Summer addition Jack Clarke headed the Wearsiders in front inside the opening 15 minutes at the Stadium of Light.
And the Black Cats had chances to extend their lead, with Clarke and Ross Stewart among those foiled by Sky Blues' keeper Simon Moore. Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson made a fine save from Jonathan Panzo in the first half, while Coventry missed a series of chances with Matty Godden having an off-day in front of goal.
But as the second period wore on, Coventry had to throw caution to the wind and eventually they got their rewards as Swede Viktor Gokeres' individual effort hauled them level six minutes from time. Alex Neil included two summer signings in his starting XI, with former Arsenal man Daniel Ballard starting in central defence, while Clarke - who joined on a permanent basis earlier this month after spending a loan spell on Wearside last season - played wide on the left.
READ MORE: Sunderland 1-1 Coventry: Highlights and reaction as Black Cats earn opening day point
Three more new arrivals were included on the bench - ex-Portsmouth goalkeeper Alex Bass, former West Ham defender Aji Alese, and latest signing Ellis Simms, with the Everton striker having joined Sunderland on loan on Friday. Coventry boss Mark Robins included on-loan Nottingham Forest defender Panzo in his side, while on-loan Manchester City centre-back Callum Doyle - who spent last season on loan at Sunderland - was on the bench, as was Sunderland academy graduate goalkeeper Ben Wilson.
Sunderland made an excellent start to the game, settling quickly and causing Coventry problems. Stewart hit an early shot from the edge of the box straight at keeper Moore, after good work from Elliot Embleton.
But the Black Cats did not have long to wait for their first goal since returning to the Championship, breaking the deadlock after only 12 minutes. Alex Pritchard picked out Lynden Gooch wide on the right and he beat Jake Bidwell before floating the ball to the far post where Clarke met it with a header which caught Moore in no-man's land, with the effort finding the net.
And Clarke almost doubled Sunderland's lead midway through the half when Pritchard's right-wing cross found him at the far post, but his first-time shot was straight at Moore who spilled the ball initially before collecting at the second attempt. Coventry belatedly began to come into the game, with Gyokeres sending a shot high and wide.
Their best chance of the half came on 37 minutes when Panzo's 25-yard strike drew a brilliant save out of Anthony Patterson, who fingertipped the ball onto the bar and then Matty Godden headed the rebound over the top from close range. Early in the second half, Sunderland had another chance to extend their lead when they hit Coventry with a rapid counter-attack, but when Clarke teed up Embleton inside the area he sent his shot high and wide.
But the visitors missed a gilt-edged chance to level on 53 minutes, with Sunderland getting themselves into a mess of their own making. Danny Batth played Dan Neil into trouble on the edge of his own penalty area, he was dispossed and the ball came to the unmarked Godden 12 yards out but he fired wide when he should have scored.
A couple of minutes later, Pritchard made an excellent challenge inside the penalty area to deny Godden as he was preparing to shoot. At the other end, Moore made a fine save to deny Stewart on the hour, turning his shot over the bar.
As time went on, though, Sunderland were increasingly riding their luck and it finally ran out on them six minutes from time. Gyokeres executed a neat turn outside the box, skipped past his man and then from the edge of the D he curled a shot beyond Patterson, just inside the right-hand post.
In the final minutes, the game could have gone either way with both teams searching for a winner, but neither side was able to find a way through.
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How they lined up
Sunderland: Patterson, Gooch, Ballard, Batth, Cirkin, Evans, Neil, Embleton (O'Nien 61), Pritchard (Roberts 79), Clarke, Stewart. Subs not used: Bass, Wright, Alese, Simms, Hume
BOOKED: Clarke, Evans, Ballard, O'Nien
Coventry City: Moore, Hyam, McFadzean (Tavares 74), Panzo, Eccles (Dabo 74), Allen (Palmer 62), Shead, Hamer, Bidwell, Godden (Walker 74), Gyokeres. Subs not used: Wilson, Rose, Doyle
BOOKED: Hamer
Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire)
Attendance: 40,851
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