Sunderland dig in to survive Cattermole’s ninth red card

team, who had not achieved one clean sheet this season before he arrived but now have two in four matches.

“After last week’s sending-off when everything was going right we ended up losing 3-1 and we could have crumbled, but we didn’t,” Coleman said.

“The timing [of the red card] was a big test. They are the best team in the league but we had a game plan to frustrate them, we dug deep and I was really pleased with the performance.”

Marshalled superbly by experienced captain John O’Shea, Sunderland’s back five were magnificent, withstanding everything the home side could muster.

Wolves attacked relentlessly and, after Cattermole’s dismissal, Sunderland were rarely able to escape their defensive third, let alone venture into the opposite half.

Yet they repelled everything, with headed clearance following brave block and last-ditch tackle as Wolves failed to score in a Championship match for only the third time this season and failed to win for the first time in seven matches.

Wolves nonetheless extended their lead to five points, although that could be cut to two when Cardiff travel to Reading on Monday. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo warned that his team must expect more opponents to employ such defensive tactics.

“The players did very well and there was only one team on the pitch looking for the three points,” he said. “But games like this will happen again and we have to find solutions.”