Even Barton can’t lift tone

IT is early days, but this could well rank as one of the most forgettable matches of 2017.

Not even two Premier League clubs, both fielding strong starting XIs, could produce anything bordering on entertainment. An advert for the FA Cup? It should only be shown after the watershed if so, for this was gruesome. The team-sheets — which included Sunderland star man Jermain Defoe and Joey Barton, making his second debut for Burnley — had indicated a winning intent. That, though, failed to play out on the park.

The home fans had even stopped booing pantomime villain Barton, formerly of Newcastle, come the end, such was their boredom. The 34-year-old looks out of shape but, in fairness, his passing was one of the few highlights here, even if it was efficient rather than incisive. As for the other headline act, Defoe wore the look of a man who would have preferred to be rested.

The game’s best chance saw Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski hit the post with a late header.

Sunderland manager David Moyes said: ‘We conceded terrible goals at Burnley in a poor game (a 4-1 defeat). This time, it was just a poor game without the goals.’ Burnley’s Sean Dyche added: ‘There were a lot of positives from my group.’ We’ll take his word for that.

And the worst news? They’ve got to do it all again a week on Tuesday.