Sunderland vs West Brom match report: Ben Foster denies Black Cats as relegation crisis deepens

Sunderland 0 West Brom 0

Lee Cattermole's effort is saved by West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster (Getty)

Tony Pulis was talking of summersaults after a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light, but then West Bromwich Albion will start next season in the Premier League.

There is no such certainty for Sunderland, who now must win four of their remaining seven games, according to the mathematics of their manager Sam Allardyce, whose mood was fundamentally one of bemusement.

His team were robust, well drilled, created a hatful of chances playing it his way, kept the clean sheet he has repeatedly called for, and still ended the day nearer to the Championship that safety.

Allardyce and his players were not doing summersaults. For them, the late winner that Norwich eked out in injury-time against Sunderland’s great rivals, was a punishing blow.

The point plundered by Pulis’ men took them to 40 points. That looks like the Champions League to the North East’s current two Premier League sides.

Sunderland, for all the 20 shots and the superb display from Ben Foster, slipped four points from safety in their goalless afternoon. There is a game in hand but it is the element of games running out that is of more significance now.

Allardyce knows his stats better than most. Four successive draws is now the current run, but more significantly it is one win from ten, and, as Norwich have proved, it is the victories which are such a priceless commodity at this time of year.

Saido Berahino is tackled by Jan Kirchoff (Getty)

Sunderland thought they had that in the 93rd minutes, but the substitute Dame N’Doye was fractionally offside before he shot into the West Brom goal. In the 89th minute, Foster had excelled to save from Jermain Defoe with his left boot. Earlier the goalkeeper had used his body to repel Jan Kirchhoff.

Sunderland had 20 attempts to beat Foster, but none registered. It felt dispirited at full-time, despite the dominance.

“I don’t know what else we can do?” said Allardyce. “I don’t know what else I can say. That is the best performance for 90 minutes since I’ve been here.

“We broke them down time after time. Unfortunately there was a guy in the goal who stopped us scoring two or three goals today. It’s been a huge frustrating afternoon.

“We can’t create anymore chances. We can’t do any more to try and win a game than we did.

“I believe and I hope they believe they will win more games in the next seven than they will lose.

“It was little bit of poor finishing but their goalkeeper was outstanding. It’s the inches, just an inch round the post, a mishit that goes in maybe.”

Jermain Defoe reacts after missing a chance at goal (Getty)

No such measurements for Pulis.

“Am I pleased? I’m doing summersaults,” he said. “We have seven games to go. To get to those points is first class.

“The resilience and the effort and togetherness shown by the players was fantastic.

“Ben has been like that since he came back. We didn’t have him for six months.

He’s a top goalkeeper and a top lad.”

Teams

Sunderland (4-3-3): Mannone; Yedlin, Kone, Kaboul, Van Aanholt; M’Vila, Kirchhoff, Cattermole; Borini, Defoe, Khazri (N’Doye 82).

West Bromwich (4-2-3-1): Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Chester; Sandro, Jacob; Gardner (McClean 71), Fletcher, Berahino (Leko 78); Rondon (Anichebe 81).

Star man: Foster

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)

Match rating: 4/10