Blackburn 0 Sunderland 0 - report

Blackburn 0 Sunderland 0

Under-fire Sunderland manager Peter Reid saw his side dig in to take a point at Ewood Park.

Reid had found himself feeling the pressure following a string of poor results in the close season.

But he must have been comforted with they way his side went about their business against the UEFA Cup contenders.

Blackburn had scored goals for fun in warm-up matches, only to suffer frustration in front of their home fans.

They desperately wanted to start with a win, partly because today was the second anniversary of benefactor Jack Walker’s death.

Stephen Wright marked his first game for Sunderland by picking up a booking inside the first minute.

The former Liverpool defender, who arrived for £3million in midweek, left Damien Duff on the floor.

The visitors won a free-kick 30 yards out when Keith Gillespie tripped Thomas Butler. But Claudio Reyna’s delivery was saved comfortably by Brad Friedel.

Then Kevin Kilbane, jeered by a section of the Sunderland fans, strode forward only to steer his shot wide of the target.

Reyna almost put Sunderland ahead after 10 minutes but his curling free-kick went marginally wide.

His effort came after Lucas Neill had brought down Phillips with Blackburn midfielder Tugay lying injured.

Reyna tried to get Sunderland going and he picked out Butler. However his attempted pass to Michael Gray was over-hit and the ball ran out of play.

Kilbane then got away from Nils Eric Johansson and burst into the area.

But Blackburn goalkeeper Friedel was alert to the danger and raced off his line to clear.

Short then conceded a corner under pressure from Phillips following a good delivery from Reyna.

Blackburn moved forward in the 32nd minute and Martin Taylor glanced a header wide from Short’s quickly-taken free-kick.

Then Cole got away from his marker Phil Babb to fire in a shot that just cleared the bar.

Phillips needed treatment to a head wound after colliding with Martin Taylor.

A bandage was about to be applied but the striker decided to play on without it until half-time.

There was an anxious moment for Sunderland when David Dunn whipped in a free-kick.

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen stood his ground, however, and punched the ball clear from Cole.

Blackburn stepped up the pace before the break and Damien Duff almost put them ahead, only for Joachim Bjorklund to make a timely interception.

Then Neill rattled in a shot from 25 yards that whistled past the post.

Sunderland looked dangerous on the break and when Gray’s cross was blocked Butler latched quickly onto the ball.

He strode forward but his finish was poor and keeper Friedel was not tested.

Cole was continuing to work hard and drifted wide to receive the ball. However his cross did not match the effort he put in.

The former Old Trafford ace then got on the end of Dunn’s cross, only for Babb to make a timely interception.

Duff raced clear for Blackburn after good work by Cole. But instead of releasing Yorke he decided to go for goal.

It proved to be the wrong option with Sorensen comfortably saving the young midfielder’s shot.

Duff was beginning a lot more of the ball and delivered a good cross into the path of Lucas Neill.

He made good contact with the ball but his header went straight at Danish international Sorensen.

Duff got away from Wright and whipped in a good shot that Sorensen did well to deflect to safety.

Blackburn were grateful to Friedel in the 76th minute when he reacted superbly to turn away a free-kick from Reyna.

Souness then decided to make a change three minutes later, bringing on Craig Hignett for the ineffective Gillespie.

Cole picked out Duff with a fine cross but the midfielder wasted the chance by directing a header straight to Sorensen.