Stoke v Sunderland

Stoke 0

FT 90 +9
HT 0-0

Stoke's Pete Crouch (l) tangles with Danny Rose

By Neil Johnston BBC Sport

Sunderland were denied a penalty in a goalless encounter with fellow draw specialists Stoke.

The hosts were the better side but were lucky to escape when Robert Huth handled Steven Fletcher's second-half shot at the Britannia.

Black Cats keeper Simon Mignolet produced a double save to deny Stoke's Charlie Adam and Ryan Shawcross before the interval.

Stoke lost Marc Wilson, who was taken to hospital with a broken leg.

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We did not get a break - Pulis

Play was held up for five minutes early in the second half while the defender received treatment on the pitch, before he was eventually carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Andy Wilkinson.

It summed up a frustrating day for the hosts, who have now drawn six of their first nine league games, the same tally as Sunderland, who have played a game fewer.

While the visitors will argue they should have had a penalty for Huth's intervention, Martin O'Neill's side created few chances and have now won only once in 16 league outings.

Quality was in short supply in an opening 45 minutes littered with misplaced passes.

The first-half highlight was a terrific double save by Mignolet to deny the Potters the breakthrough.

Steve Wilson BBC Match of the Day commentator

This is not a match that will live long in the memory. In a game of few chances, Stoke will feel they should have won although the hosts were relieved when the referee decided against pointing to the penalty spot after Robert Huth handled Steven Fletcher's shot inside the area.

The Belgian did well to punch Charlie Adam's curling free-kick away but the ball fell to Ryan Shawcross who then forced Mignolet into a diving stop.

Sunderland, who arrived in the Potteries without an away win in the Premier League since they visited the Britannia on 4 February, failed to force Asmir Begovic into a serious save before the interval - although Stoke's Bosnian keeper had to be alert to cut out Craig Gardner's dangerous low cross before it reached Jack Colback.

The game, scrappy and disjointed in the first half, threatened to become a bruising affair in the second when former Black Cats midfielder Dean Whitehead was responsible for an ugly challenge on Sebastian Larsson, earning the Stoke man a yellow card.

The match finally came to life in the closing stages, Fletcher's shot striking Huth on the arm inside the Stoke area.

But referee Mark Halsey was not interested and Huth responded by forcing a save from Mignolet with a header, while Michael Kightly spurned another Stoke chance in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Stoke find goals scarce at the Britannia Stadium

Peter Crouch is the only Potters player to have scored at the Britannia Stadium in the Premier League this season. He has netted all three goals.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis:

"I think a big thing today is that having gone to Manchester United and defended so poorly last week (in a 4-2 defeat), we actually looked really solid.

"I don't think Asmir Begovic has had a shot to save. So that has been a bonus, but we just need a break in front of goal."

Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill said:

"I've seen it back briefly (the penalty appeal). The truth is, I thought if it had been given against us, I might have been none too pleased.

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Sunderland yet to hit form - O'Neill

"I think he has tried to keep his arm there, although if it misses him, it is in the net. I'm not sure it was a deliberate handball."

"It was a difficult game played in difficult enough conditions, with the wind swirling around.

"We have drawn a lot of games this season and we are just unable at the moment to turn one or two of those draws into victories."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Stoke City

01 Begovic
02 Cameron
04 Huth
12 Wilson (Wilkinson - 53' )
17 Shawcross
15 Nzonzi
16 Adam (Owen - 79' )
18 Whitehead Booked
21 Kightly
19 Walters (Etherington - 72' )
25 Crouch Booked

Substitutes

29 Sorensen
20 Upson
28 Wilkinson
08 Palacios
26 Etherington
09 Jones
10 Owen

Sunderland

22 Mignolet
16 O'Shea
24 Cuellar
03 Rose Booked (Bardsley - 83' )
06 Cattermole
07 Larsson (Sessegnon - 61' )
08 Gardner Booked
14 Colback
21 Johnson (Saha - 89' )
23 McClean
26 Fletcher

Substitutes

20 Westwood
02 Bardsley
12 Kilgallon
15 Vaughan
28 Sessegnon
09 Campbell
25 Saha

Ref: Halsey

Att: 27,055

Match Stats

Possession 50 50

Shots

11 6

On target

6 3

Corners

7 3

Fouls

12 6

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +8:07 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +7:27

Goal kick taken long by Simon Mignolet (Sunderland).

90:00 +6:59

Shot by Steven Nzonzi (Stoke) right-footed from right channel (25 yards), over the bar.

90:00 +6:34

Cross by Michael Kightly (Stoke), resulting in open play.

90:00 +5:53

Goal kick taken long by Simon Mignolet (Sunderland).

90:00 +5:17

Shot by Michael Kightly (Stoke) left-footed from right channel (18 yards), missed right.

90:00 +3:59

Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Matthew Etherington (Stoke) to centre, header by Robert Huth (Stoke) from centre of penalty area (12 yards), save (caught) by Simon Mignolet (Sunderland).

90:00 +0:40

Attacking throw-in by Andy Wilkinson (Stoke).

90:00 +0:28

Attacking throw-in by Andy Wilkinson (Stoke).

89:56

Attacking throw-in by Geoff Cameron (Stoke).

89:18

Defending throw-in by Phil Bardsley (Sunderland).

88:34 Substitution

Substitution Sunderland substitution: Adam Johnson replaced by Louis Saha (tactical).