Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion played out a disappointing goalless draw which did few favours for either side's early season ambitions. For the Black Cats, it was a fifth successive draw as they dropped to third behind Burnley and missed the chance to go top.

Alex Mowatt ensured West Brom emerged from their Sky Bet Championship trip to high-flying Sunderland with some reward after his crucial block denied Chris Rigg a winner.

Follow live coverage as Sunderland face West Bromwich Albion in the Championship today. An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.

A fourth successive league draw for Sunderland saw them surpassed by Leeds United in top spot on the Championship table by the conclusion of the weekend and they will be looking to reclaim it as they host sixth place West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.

Sunderland extended their unbeaten run to 10 games but, as the ­smattering of gentle boos that greeted the final whistle testified, it was most certainly not a cause for celebration on Wearside. Instead a fifth successive draw against highly efficient,