MAX MAGIC ENOUGH TO DENY BLACK CATS
BRISTOL CITY boss Liam Manning praised the brilliance of keeper Max O’Leary as Sunderland were denied a moraleboosting win.
O’Leary was the City hero as he made a series of superb first-half saves to earn the West Country visitors a point.
Having been humbled 5-1 at home to Blackburn on Monday, the Black Cats were much-improved and looked the better throughout, but could not find a way past O’Leary.
Manning was pleased with his side’s defensive resilience as they repelled a series of Sunderland attacks to claim a third successive clean sheet, although he admitted he was less satisfied with other aspects of his team’s display.
He said: “The result was more pleasing than the performance. It’s about getting the balance right. In the last two games, the performance and the result were exactly as we would have wanted them. Today, in terms of the performance, we know we can play a lot better.
“People stepped up, like Max who was outstanding. He made some excellent saves, especially in the first half. He was excellent, but then he has been so often for us. He’s made so many big saves for us this season.”
Adil Aouchiche and Bradley Dack also hit the crossbar as Sunderland pressed for a much-needed victory in front of their own fans – having now won just one of their last nine matches.
The hosts were the better side from the outset.
Dan Ballard thought he had claimed a ninth-minute opener when he headed goalwards, but O’Leary did superbly to claw it away.
Aouchiche then stabbed wide from inside the area and Jack Clarke was the next to be denied by O’Leary as his effort was parried away.
The City goalkeeper then produced a brilliant double-save to first deny Jobe Bellingham and then Clarke’s follow-up effort.
Further saves from Neil and Aouchiche kept the scare at 0-0 and preserved O’Leary’s man of the match award.
With City not showing much in the way of forward momentum, it was Sunderland who came within inches of claiming a winner but Dack’s header came back off the bar.
While frustrated that his side failed to take all three points, Mike Dodds was nevertheless delighted with his players’ response to their home humiliation at the start of the week.
Sunderland’s interim head coach said: “I think we had 20 shots on goal. If their goalkeeper isn’t man of the match I’ll be amazed. It was a positive reaction to the previous game, which psychologically is big for the players.
“The last performance was completely unacceptable. I’m disappointed we haven’t won because that should have been three points, and I think their goalkeeper has earned a point for them today.
“I was hoping to see a significant reaction from the players. I thought we got that today.”