Mike Dodds pulled no punches with his post-match verdict after Sunderland's 0-0 draw with QPR. It's now seven games without a win for the Black Cats, six of those defeats, but a point in this one stopped their torrid run.

Sunderland remain nine points off the bottom three, eight above today's visitors, but it was the Hoops who looked the most like taking all three points.

"People are going to say it’s a point and it stops the chain of events that we’ve had for the last six games, but the performance I was really disappointed with – both first half and second half," Dodds said. 

""I felt we huffed and puffed. There was no real quality in the game and that’s not just at the top half of the pitch, particularly with our build I thought we were slow and we were ponderous.

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"I’ve got to keep working with them. They’re a group that need help and a large part of that responsibility is myself.

"Naturally, you’ll get some help when we get some bodies back, but I thought that was a real naïve performance where in previous games I’ve sat here and in three of them I’ve tried to look at pockets of the game that I really liked, but there wasn’t a huge amount I liked about that game.

"We’re going to have some bodies back for Easter weekend which everyone can see is going to be a huge boost to the group. I think they’re giving everything. I can’t question their effort and endeavour but at the moment we’re short and I can’t flower that up."

In truth, Sunderland could have lost this afternoon had it not been for Anthony Patterson between the sticks. The Black Cats shot stopper produced a brilliant save at the death to deny Chris Willock and ensure a share of the spoils.

"I don't take any satisfaction when the goalkeeper keeps you in the game because it tells you that there's a chain of events leading up to that point that you can either stop or make better decisions," Dodds said.

"On the flip side, I've got to praise Patta because it's an unbelievable save at the end. He hasn't had a great deal to do in the game and I think that's the sign of a top goalie when you make big saves in that situation.

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"I know he's had some criticism this season but I think that save justifies our belief that he's one of the best goalkeepers in the division."

Dodds was also full of praise for Dan Ballard, who was a doubt for the game after picking up a hamstring injury at Southampton. 

"He's a great kid who enjoys playing for the club, a potential Northern Ireland captain," he said. "He's one of the best centre halves in the division and he's shown his character in terms of getting out there for us today."