Zenden promises Sunderland will keep working to turn tide

Zenden joined on a free transfer (GETTY IMAGES)

Sunderland midfielder Bolo Zenden has likened his side's plight to that of a boxer being caught on the ropes. The Dutchman and his team-mates came within seconds of ending their winless Barclays Premier League run at the 12th attempt at Portsmouth on Tuesday night, only to be caught by a sucker punch in the dying seconds.

They eventually had to settle for a point – just their sixth from the last 36 on offer – and have now won only twice in 18 league outings since they beat Wolves 5-2 at the Stadium of Light on 27 September .

"Any team goes through a difficult spell and a period where things are not going their way, although ours is longer than I'm used to," admitted Zenden. "We are not getting results at the moment and all we can do is work hard. The fans were great with us again and came down in big numbers. They have seen a team which has worked and tried. We desperately want to give the fans something back because they deserve that.

"At the minute it's like we are standing in the corner receiving all the punches, and we have to work hard to get out of it," added the 33-year-old.

On a fraught night at Fratton Park, Pompey's off-field problems were compounded by fresh difficulties on the pitch, when Ricardo Rocha was eventually sent off for a trip on Darren Bent after referee Kevin Friend initially dismissed Hassan Yebda.

Bent duly dispatched the resulting 12th-minute spot-kick. However, the visitors were dealt a series of blows: midfielder Steed Malbranque was rushed to hospital afterwards complaining of chest pains, although he was later allowed to fly home, and Lee Cattermole and then substitute David Meyler were sent off.

They had managed to scrap their way to the sixth minute of stoppage time before Aruna Dindane headed home Jamie O'Hara's back-post cross to snatch a point.

"Of course we are very disappointed; we worked extremely hard. The two red cards gave Portsmouth the wings they needed to get a result," Zenden said. "We had the chances to score a second goal, which would have made a big difference. It feels like a defeat at this moment."

Life will get no easier for Steve Bruce's men after a return of three points from home games against Stoke and Wigan and their trip to Portsmouth. Their next opponents are Arsenal – the last side they beat in the league – with Cattermole and Meyler suspended, before they entertain Fulham on Wearside on 28 February.