Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur have headed into the break level following a goalless first half in their Premier League clash at the Stadium of Light.
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The visitors thought that they should have had a penalty inside the opening minute when Kyle Walker burst into the box before taking a tumble under pressure from Patrick van Aanholt, but referee Craig Pawson was not interested in Spurs' appeals.
Both keepers had to remain alert as Jermain Defoe attempted the slot the ball past Hugo Lloris, leaving the keeper with an easy save, before Harry Kane broke down the other end, firing the ball over.
Defoe was through again as he looked to open the scoring against his old club for the hosts, using his pace to pull away from Walker before attempting to rifle the ball into the bottom corner, but the ball came back off the foot of the post.
Defoe continued to pose a threat as he sprinted into the box from the left just after the half-hour mark before crossing to Ola Toivonen, but Ben Davies got to it first, diverting it back for Lloris to deal with.
The striker continued to look the most likely to open the scoring before the half-time whistle as he got forward again shortly before the break, rounding Toby Alderweireld before getting his shot away, but his finish was straight at Lloris.
Sian Cowper
