Sunderland end their losing streak with uninspiring draw with QPR

A game which inspired very little from both teams ended in such manner, as neither side could find a breakthrough - Sunderland's Anthony Patterson the busier of the two goalkeepers having made an important stop to deny Chris Willock in the closing stages. 

Sunderland may have avoided losing seven games in a row for the first time at this level in their history but it remains far from what is expected on Wearside ahead of what is now a welcome international break.

We Are Sunderland reflects on some of the key points for a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light: 

Dan Ballard risk or reward

Mike Dodds was almost at a loss for words heading into the game after the latest series of injury setbacks within his squad with Jenson Seelt being ruled out for the remainder of the season and Nazariy Rusyn’s absence adding to concerns surrounding Dan Ballard.

“I feel like I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this,” said Dodds who was left with a predicament regarding Ballard and whether to risk the Northern Irishman, who was this week selected by his country for the upcoming international break to alleviate immediate fears from St Mary’s a week ago, or err on the side of caution to avoid a further setback.

Had Luke O’Nien been available the answer to that may have been different but, as it was, Ballard was given the green light to feature, with Dodds conceding in the week that the 24-year-old would be given every chance to start.

Ballard’s continuance in the side meant there were three changes with Callum Styles, Adil Aouchiche and Luis Hemir coming in for Seelt, Chris Rigg and Mason Burstow.

But the focus was on Ballard in the early stages, and that’s something Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes had clearly identified with Scotsman Lyndon Dykes testing the defender multiple times in the opening period. Dykes clattered into Ballard inside two minutes to test the physicality of the centre-back who looked up for the examination before a series of cheap turnovers may have caused some alarm in the Sunderland dugout.

A miscue on the edge of his own area under pressure from Dykes forced half an opening for the away side before Ballard had goalkeeper Patterson to thank for sparing his blushes when a careless pass across his own 18-yard box fell straight at the feet of Lucas Andersen who might have done better with Patterson out of goal initially having looked to provide an angle for Ballard.

Ballard was relatively heavy in possession at times and had his hands on his knees catching a breather on a number of occasions in the opening quarter which, again, may have caused one or two nervous glances from the dugout before he was able to steady himself.

Any concerns were laid to rest when QPR tried to launch a counter-attack on the back of Sunderland’s first real threat when a direct ball was sent over Ballard to set up a foot race between him and Dykers – one the Sunderland defender negotiated well.

Ballard was then quite key in starting several Sunderland attacks as they endeavoured to build through the thirds, utilising the space Aouchiche was able to pick up in the advanced midfield role.

Only Trai Hume had more touches and completed more passes than Ballard in the first half, which demonstrated Dodds was just about justified in risking the defender who was able to remain composed throughout the second half until the closing stages where he, again, had Patterson to thank after coming off second best with Sinclair Armstrong in a 50-50 on the touchline which allowed the QPR forward to advance into the area and pick out Chris Willock who should have scored.

It's unlikely to feature in Ballard's standout games on Wearside, but he was able to lace up and feature in a time of need for Sunderland and, in the end, he at least contributed to ending their losing streak, with this their first clean sheet since New Year's Day.

Adil Aouchiche's first start since December

After effective cameo appearances against both Leicester City and Southampton from the bench in recent weeks, Aouchiche was rewarded with just a fifth start for Sunderland since his arrival from Lorient last summer – hist first since December’s draw with Rotherham United. As a matter of fact, since missing Sunderland’s best chance of the game in the defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road in January, the Frenchman has featured for just 74 minutes from the bench in 10 Championship games.

Aouchiche replaced teenager Rigg, following his back-to-back starts, as Dodds looked to bring more of a creative spark in the final third behind Hemir. But with Sunderland’s sluggish start to the game, having looked every bit a side low on confidence from six successive defeats, the 21-year-old had to work his way into things following an early cross which drifted onto the bar.

It was that pocket of space midway through the first half where he did start to gain possession, however, having fed Romaine Mundle on the right, his cross resulting in penalty appeals for Styles at the back post.

The midfielder picked up a loose ball on halfway and advanced towards the edge of the area – the kind of confidence which has been lacking in recent weeks, before his strike at goal was snuffed out. Sunderland, by and large, were toothless in the first half, their xG of 0.16 supporting those claims, but it did feel if something were to happen it would come via Aouchiche’s involvement, with the midfielder completing three of his four dribbles, enjoying 35 touches and being responsible for 0.06 of that 0.16 xG in the first half.

To say it was an impact would perhaps be an overstatement, but that general business in-between Sunderland’s midfield and forward line dissipated in the second half as Dodds’ side struggled to wrestle complete control of the game – both sides lacking confidence and quality.

The introduction of both Rigg and Pierre Ekwah just before the hour injected sporadic moments from Sunderland and Aouchiche, but nothing of any threat to Asmir Begovic in the QPR goal - Aouchiche, at times guilty of slowing play down on the break.

As with most in Sunderland's attack this season, much more will be needed looking ahead to next year , but a run of games in the side for Aouchiche may lend itself to being able to establish himself more down the final stretch.

Luis Hemir's struggles continue in return to the side

It wasn’t surprising to see Burstow drop to the bench after a disappointing outing at Southampton last weekend, but it was however surprising to see Hemir given the nod in his place. The general consensus heading into the game, was that Rusyn would start – at least before the news of the Ukrainian’s injury in midweek.

Hemir has made four appearances under Dodds, coming off the bench for the final 18 minutes against Swansea City, and starting the two following games against Norwich City and at home to Leicester. In those three games, he managed just one shot, with an expected goals of just 0.04 – a shot he dragged wide against the Foxes.

For all the talk of service into forward areas, bar one or two moments of strength, Hemir struggled again. It may be harsh to compare him to Ross Stewart, but the difference in pressing of those two players is staggering. Where Sunderland were once forcing teams into errors from central areas of the pitch, QPR’s back line of Jimmy Dunne, Jake Clarke-Salter and Steve Cook, were able to play round Hemir with relative ease.

Again, it may be harsh, but after 19 appearances in the Championship, it’s difficult to say what sort of a striker Hemir is. He has the frame to hold players off but, as was the case today, was outmuscled too easily.

The Portuguese forward managed 57 minutes, 16 touches and just four passes. It's now just one effort in the four games he’s featured in under Dodds, which tells you everything you need to know.

Unfortunately for Sunderland it goes beyond just Hemir and the lack of output from their attacking players, having failed to register a single shot on target.

Sunderland's strength in-depth suggest international break comes at the right time

One of the problems for Dodds was his ability, or inability moreover, to change the game – given the options available to him on the bench.

Although Dodds was able to include Bradley Dack back in the first team squad for the first time since Boxing Day’s win over Hull City, the make-up of the bench included three teenagers from the academy set-up, as well as 16-year-old Rigg, along with Timothee Pembele (20), Burstow (20) and goalkeeper Nathan Bishop.

Dack’s return to the squad appeared more as a seat-filler than with any real intention to feature; the midfielder tipped to gain minutes for Sunderland’s under-21s side over the international break on his return from a hamstring injury.

Dodds, invariably, will not look to use his lack of options as an excuse, but it’s clear having so little to turn to on the bench will do little to instil confidence of being able to turn a game in your favour, particularly on the back of such a barren run of form.

In that respect, the international break comes at an opportune moment for Dodds and Sunderland.

Sunderland snap their losing streak with uninspiring stalemate

One thing you can say about Dodds during this interim period in charge is that he has not played down the importance of his side snapping this run of form – a run of form which threatened to recreate history for Sunderland here against Queens Park Rangers should their run of consecutive defeats have extended to seven.

Sunderland have lost six games in a row, or more, on ten other occasions in their history, but never have they lost more than six outside English football’s top tier. The last two games within this run at Southampton and at the Stadium of Light against Leicester before, Sunderland have fielded two of the three youngest ever starting line-ups in the Championship era. Regardless of both their current and potential ability, for such a young squad to endure this kind of rut must be difficult.

Here against QPR, Dodds' starting XI just tipped over 21-years-old for their average age, but the opening period of the game certainly felt like a side who had been hit with blow after blow in recent months with the loss of key personnel and a managerial change all contributing to Sunderland’s season coming unstuck and derailing.

Dodds was not pragmatic in his approach, but as the two sides traded their versions of punches at each other, it became clear that a stalemate might not have been the worst outcome for both teams - although it was QPR doing the late pressuring for a winner.

Dodds will be joined be most on Wearside in being relived with the timing of the international break with their run of defeats now being brought to an end. But there remains plenty to work on to try and inspire the end of the campaign.