Sunderland must beware the sides of March after another miserable match that exposed the shortcomings of Steve Bruce's team.They now face three home games in March and it's essential they locate a few wins to ease relegation fears that won't be swept away with performances such as this one.
Sunderland have now gone 14 games without a Premier League win and never looked likely to end that dismal record against an unambitious Fulham side, who were happy to settle for a draw.
Fulham's Bobby Zamora went closest to breaking the deadlock when his first-half header beat keeper Craig Gordon but drifted wide in a rare break by the Londoners.
Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer was not seriously troubled by a Sunderland team who largely relied on long-range efforts from Darren Bent, Kenwyne Jonesand Alan Hutton for their only threats.
But they were inches away from an undeserved winner when Benjani just failed to connect with a cross from Bolo Zenden nine minutes from the end.
REACTION:
Bruce remains confident that Sunderland can claw their way out of trouble before the end of the season.
But he pulled no punches about a dismal game when asked what he could say about it. "If I'm being honest, not a lot," he said.
"We need a little break and the players have to handle the expectations of playing here. It's not easy. We were very sound defensively, but offensively it takes a different type of courage. Basically we lumped it up the pitch which happens when you become edgy.
"I don't want to see my teams thumping it forward, but that's what we did. We are not set up to play that way and it becomes a frustration. We had the best chances in the game - and there weren't a lot. We didn't create a lot in terms of getting the ball down and trying to play.
"We're paid to handle these situations and at the moment we have too many not playing well enough. we have to get out this run. weve got to stick together and learn from it. It's a difficult time but I still think we wil be okay. When you are up against it, all you can do is keep working and believe you are doing the right thing."
Roy Hodgson's mood was very different as they ended a successful month with another solid performance.
The Fulham manager said:"The good thing is nobody can take away what February has done for us. With 38 points we can be reasonably confident we will have another year in the Premier League and that was our major goal.
"The only minor criticism is that we didn't do enough with our possession and we didn't find that final pass, but I'm delighted with our week's work.
"But this was our eighth game in a month using basically the same players. I did have fears about this game because this is where Sunderland get their points. We arrived back in the early hours of Friday morning and it's always a a good point when you get one after a European game."
Fulham now enter a March when they face Juventus twice in the Europa League, Tottenham in the FA Cup and the two Manchester clubs in the league. "Rather than fear those matches and fear we will be knocked out, we should be delighted we have come so far," he said.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
In mind-numbing fashion. Fulham, who have won only once away from him this season, were content to sit back and leave with a point after their exertions in midweek in the Europa League. And Sunderland lacked the quality to open up a well-organised defence as their early control soon turned into a a desperate desire to hit the ball forward to Jones and Bent, who chased far too many lost causes. Fulham failed to mount a genuine threat once Zamora's header drifted wide early in the game, but should wonder what might have happened if they had been more ambitious.
WHAT IT MEANS:
More trouble for Bruce as Sunderland fans continue to question the shape of a side that looks woefully short of ideas, particularly in a midfield which is strong on destruction, but weak on contruction. They have a chance to ease their worries with three successive home game, but there is little optimism about their prospects among troubled supporters. Fulham's mood is vastly different and they face an exciting month in the FA Cup and Europa League. Hodgson is right to point out that they can concentrate on the cups in the knowledge that they are safe in the league.
QUOTABLE:
"We don't have the Sword of Damocles hanging over us where you worry whether you can marry the cup with the league."
Hodgson delves into Greek mythology to explain the current position.
SUNDERLAND 0 FULHAM 0
PLAYER MARKING:
Sunderland (4-4-2): Gordon 6; Hutton 9, Turner 6, Mensah 7 (McCartney 84,5), Ferdinand 6; Campbell 6, Cana 5, Cattermole 5 (Zenden 56,5) Richardson 5; Jones 5, Bent 5.
Substitutes not used : Carson, Bardsley, Kilgallon, Benjani, Da Silva.
Fulham (4-5-1): Schwarzer 5; Baird 6, Hughes 6, Hangeland 9, Shorey 6; Duff 5, Murphy 5 (Greening 58,5), Etuhu 6, Davies 6; Gera 5; Zamora 6 (Elm 84,5).
Substitutes not used: Zuberbuhler, Kelly, Okaka, Riise, Smalling.
ATTENDANCE: 40,192
NEXT UP:
Sunderland v Bolton (Home), Premier League 09/03, 1945 GMT
Fulham v Tottenham (Home) FA Cup 06/03, 1720 GMT
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Brede Hangeland (Fulham): The giant central defender was in total control in the air and on the ground, although the lack of imagination shown by Sunderland's forwards made his life easier than usual. His assurance on the occasions he was tested showed why Arsenal are among his admirers.
