Full-time: Sunderland 0 West Bromwich Albion 0

GUS POYET called for everyone to stick together at the Stadium of Light but that was not enough to see Sunderland lift spirits on Wearside with an important win.

Nor was this an entertaining game of football as the Black Cats struggled to break down a well organised and very defensively minded West Bromwich Albion side.

There were a couple of half chances at either end but Sunderland did not have the quality in the final third to find a way to beat goalkeeper Ben Foster.

And, after a week when Poyet penned an open letter to fans to try to repair fractures that had emerged following comments about the fans and media, Sunderland’s supportive followers were left frustrated at the final whistle after a pretty dour goalless draw. They decided against booing, though, which is perhaps a sign that Poyet’s letter has been well received.

Sunderland have still won just once since before Christmas and this was a missed opportunity to climb above a West Brom team who occupied a place directly above them in the Premier League.

Hull’s victory over QPR means the Tigers have now leapfrogged Sunderland, who are two places and three points above the relegation zone.

Poyet wanted the fans to back the team and he could have no complaints after a largely uneventful first half which was short of goalmouth action until its dying moments.

With Lee Cattermole, who missed ten matches with knee trouble, back in the centre of the midfield trying to dictate play, Sunderland did have some drive through the middle courtesy of the former Wigan man and Seb Larsson.

Cattermole was heavily involved in the game’s first flashpoint. When his clever through pass behind the Baggies defence seemed perfect for striker Danny Graham, he went to ground after a little tug from Joleon Lescott.

The assistant referee on the far side waved his flag and demanded a Sunderland free-kick, while Lescott was cautioned even though he could easily have been red carded as the last man by referee Michael Jones.

After that opportunities were few and far between. Jermain Defoe, also back in the team as one of five changes to the side which lost at Bradford, flashed a shot wide from a tight angle, while Seb Larsson was denied shortly before half-time when Ben Foster dived to his left to thwart the goalbound drive.

The second half was also a slow starter, with neither side taking command of the ball often enough. The closest anyone came to scoring was when Santiago Vergini’s free header from Adam Johnson’s corner dropped wide.

As the minutes ticked by Sunderland did the pressing and looked more dangerous, with Foster having to save a Connor Wickham header from Johnson’s corner when the home fans sensed they might be able to celebrate a win after all.

But West Brom stood strong and kept Sunderland at bay.

SUNDERLAND (4-1-3-2): Pantilimon; Vergini (van Aanholt 85), Brown, O’Shea, Reveillere; Johnson, Cattermole, Larsson, Alvarez (Wickham 68); Defoe, Graham (Fletcher 68). Subs: Mannone (gk), Bridcutt, Gomez, Coates.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-4-2): Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Brunt; Morrison (Baird 73), Fletcher, Yacob, Gardner (McManaman 85); Berahino, Ideye. Subs: Myhill (gk), Wisdom, Olsson, Mulumbu, Sessegnon.