Sunderland 0 Leeds United 0: Changes fail to fire in disappointing stalemate with star key to taking point

A trip to the bottom of the table Sunderland failed to spark a Leeds United return to winning ways as a disappointing contest in the strong winds of Storm Boelo ended in a goalless draw.

Key trio Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Noah Okafor and Anton Stach were all injury doubts but all three made the matchday squad although only Calvert-Lewin started as Okafor and Stach dropped to the bench.

A new absence also saw centre-back Nico Elvedi miss out through illness, Elvedi replaced by Jaka Bijol as attacking pair Harry Wilson and Brenden Aaronson also came in for Stach and Okafor in three changes to the side.

Calvert-Lewin, though, endured a frustrating afternoon along with the rest of United’s attackers, Aaronson and Wilson unable to inspire a breakthrough upon coming into the team and Whites no 1 James Trafford ultimately playing an important role to Leeds taking a point.

Leeds fired in their first attempt at goal in the third minute through Jayden Bogle who showed neat footwork to work an opening on the edge of the box but the wing back dragged his shot well wide.

The Whites were soon on top, crosses from opposite sides of the pitch from both Bogle and Gabi Gudmundsson flying through the box and away to safety.

But Sunderland went close with their first attack in the eighth minute as Enzo Le Fee fed the ball to Brian Brobbey whose low drive from the edge of the box was tipped wide by James Trafford.

Leeds had 72 per cent of the ball in the first ten minutes but only Bogle's attempt to show for it and a second Sunderland attempt saw Nordi Mukiele try his luck from long range with a scuffed drive that drifted well wide.

At the other end, the Black Cats survived a mini scramble from an Ethan Ampadu long throw but Sunderland were now starting to see more of the ball as the game passed the quarter four mark although a chance to apply pressure was squandered as Mukiele was penalised for taking too long with a throw.

Chances were few and far between, Calvert-Lewin not quite able to connect with another decent cross from Gudmundsson from the left flank.

Leeds, though, survived a big scare in the 26th minute after Wilson and Bijol got themselves in a muddle in their own half which left Brobbey clean through but thwarted by Trafford who raced out to block his shot with his legs.

The Whites were now struggling to make any inroads and captain Ethan Ampadu was booked for bringing down Nilson Angulo to the left of the box, Le Fee blasting his free-kick into the wall.

Bogle looked to get Leeds going down the right but Sunderland cleared another Ampadu long throw and a strong tackle from Trai Hume on Gudmundsson saw off another potential attack down the left.

As Bogle looked to get on to a long ball down the right, Sunderland's Reinildo was booked for pulling down the Whites right back but Wilson's free kick into the box was easily cleared.

Chances for Calvert-Lewin were few and far between but the striker twice almost got in behind Luke O'Nien who appeared fortunate to get away with barging him off the ball in the first instance.

But the half looked destined to end goalless from some way out and so it proved after a sole minute of stoppage time.

Boss Daniel Farke opted against making changes during the break, after which Sunderland survived a mix up between O'Nien and Mukiele as O'Nien's arm caught his teammate in the face which led to play being halted with Leeds in a good position.

Mukiele was unable to continue and replaced by Omar Alderete, shortly after Leeds had failed to make extra man count as a cleared Bogle cross fell to Gudmundsson who lashed an effort over the bar.

Alderete's first task was to clear a low ball into the box by Bogle who had been slipped in down the right side of the defence.

Leeds were finally starting to threaten and a Wilson corner picked out Tarik Muharemovic who placed his header straight at keeper Robin Roefs who saved.

The game was gradually opening up and another good stop from Trafford thwarted Sunderland, the Whites no 1 tipping a drive from Angulo wide for a corner.

Back up the other end, a fierce strike from Bogle was blocked, the ball dropping to James Justin who curled his shot wide from the edge of the area.

But Sunderland were looking just as likely to break the deadlock, Trafford beating away another effort from Angulo from just outside the box.

With 64 minutes gone, Farke decided enough was enough, the Whites boss bringing on star men Stach and Okafor for ineffective pair Aaronson and Wilson.

Upon the restart, a high boot from Bogle on Reinildo led to the right back being booked, the challenge checked by VAR but Bogle avoiding any further punishment.

From the free-kick, Alderete appeared to have missed a sitter when jabbing the ball wide but the centre-back was offside.

Sunderland were back turning the screw and a shot from a corner was blocked before Trafford showed safe hands to gather another ball back into the box.

The additions of Stach and Okafor helped United's cause, the pair involved in working the ball to Bogle who saw another low cross cleared.

After a neat turn on the edge of the box, a shot from Tanaka was saved by Roefs, Calvert-Lewin ending up on the deck as he looked to mop up the rebound but with no foul.

Having only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds, Sunderland substitute Chemsdine Talbi then threatened as he ran at Bijol who stood firm to make a big and important tackle.

As the clock hit the 85 minute mark, Calvert-Lewin’s day was brought to an end as Farke brought on Lukas Nmecha, Sunderland the ones looking more likely to bag a winner.

As six minutes of added time were announced, another Leeds change followed as Sean Longstaff replaced Tanaka.

Moments later, Longstaff looked set to win it with a run towards goal and low drive that Roefs tipped wide with a good save.

From the corner, Okafor’s shot was blocked and sent behind for a corner which flew through the area and away to safety.

After Sunderland completely wasted a corner, Longstaff almost won it again with a shot from an Okafor cross which led to a goalline clearance but a contest in which attacking quality was severely lacking ultimately ended in a goalless draw.

Leeds United vs Sunderland: Trafford; Bogle, Justin, Elvedi, Muharemovic, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Tanaka (Longstaff 90); Wilson (Stach 65), Aaronson (Okafor 65), Calvert-Lewin (Nmecha 85). Subs not used: Zetterer, Cresswell, Bard, Gruev, Bahoya.