LONDON — Sunderland and Leeds were forced to share the spoils in a goalless stalemate at the Stadium of Light.
A point snaps the Wearsiders’ four-game losing run in the English Premier League but they remain bottom of the standings, while Leeds stay in the top half of the table, sat seventh.
A scrappy first half saw Brian Brobbey have two promising opportunities to put the Black Cats ahead but he was denied both times by James Trafford.
Both sides threatened after the break and Nilson Angulo enjoyed the better chances for Sunderland before Ao Tanaka came close for the visitors.
Brobbey made his return from injury with a place in the starting line-up as one of six changes from Sunderland’s midweek Europa League draw against Lech Poznan and Daniel Farke made three switches to the side who drew 1-1 with Manchester United last weekend.
Leeds sniffed around the Sunderland box in the early stages as Jayden Bogle skewed wide and Harry Wilson’s free-kick was met by Jaka Bijol, but his flicked header was easily held by Robin Roefs.
The Black Cats had an excellent opportunity to take the lead when Brobbey fired towards the bottom left corner, forcing Trafford into a low save, PA Media reported.
Brobbey was in the thick of the action again, pouncing on the ball following a tame exchange of passes between the Leeds defence, and Trafford was quick off his line to block the striker’s shot.
The chance spurred Sunderland on as they enjoyed a bright spell around the Leeds box, but neither side was able to put a shot away as the half petered out.
A bizarre incident at the start of the second half saw Nordi Mukiele caught around the throat by team-mate Luke O’Nien and the defender was forced off, with Omar Alderete replacing him seven minutes after the restart.
The centre-half was immediately called into action to clear a dangerous Leeds delivery into the area and Sunderland were forced to scramble away an overhead kick attempt from Brenden Aaronson.
Tarik Muharemovic’s header from a corner was held by Roefs as Leeds continued to pile on the pressure.
Angulo had a fierce effort pushed away by Trafford and minutes later the winger was again denied by a diving save from the Leeds goalkeeper.
An inswinging corner from Granit Xhaka was cleared as far as Angulo, who had another effort blocked for the Black Cats.
Leeds broke through substitute Anton Stach down the middle and a cross from Bogle on the right was hooked away at the back post by Noah Sadiki.
Tanaka’s shot was stopped by Roefs and O’Nien and Dominic Calvert-Lewin raced for the loose ball, which was eventually cleared.
A mistake at the back nearly allowed Chemsdine Talbi through, but the substitute’s strike was blocked by Bijol.
In the final minutes, Sean Longstaff was denied by a low stop from Roefs and the midfielder had a strike blocked by bodies in front of the goal line as the points were shared.
