Crystal Palace extended their unbeaten streak, but were left feeling they should have done more as they were held to a goalless draw by newly-promoted Sunderland at Selhurst Park.
While Palace controlled large swathes of the match and pressed for a winner, their attacking inefficiency coupled with an inspired display by Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs ensured the spoils were shared.
From the opening whistle, it was clear that the Eagles would dominate possession. Under Oliver Glasner, Palace have adopted a style based on patient build-up and probing runs, exploiting width and hoping to overload Sunderland’s defence.
New signing Yeremy Pino was handed his first start and immediately showed his pace and sharpness, linking well with Daichi Kamada. The Spaniard’s most glaring chance came in the first half, when Kamada played him through one-on-one with Roefs, but Pino failed to capitalise.
Sunderland came with a clear defensive plan, disciplined in midfield and compact at the back. Granit Xhaka in particular stood out, helping to shield the back line and cutting out Palace’s passing lanes. The visitors rarely threatened in attack, preferring to sit deep and force the home side into difficult angles and low-percentage efforts.
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In the second half the tide continued to flow in Palace’s favour. Glasner’s men stepped up the pressure, pushing more bodies forward as they searched for the breakthrough.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, Daniel Muñoz, and even substitute Christantus Uche all came close. A curling strike by Kamada forced a full stretch save from Roefs, and moments later a header from Mateta seemed destined for the net before being blocked.
Sunderland’s goalkeeper was the standout performer. Roefs produced multiple fine saves throughout the game, keeping out efforts at close range and denying Palace’s attacking momentum from turning into goals.
He was particularly sharp when under pressure, reacting quickly to shots that appeared too precise for many keepers.
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Palace’s defence held up relatively well against Sunderland’s rare moments of danger. The visitors tried to launch counterattacks and put pressure on set-pieces, but every time the Eagles looked likely to concede, they were rescued by good defensive positioning or a crucial block.
Oliver Glasner after the match admitted that although he was trying to take the positives, there was disappointment at not winning. He praised his side’s control over the game and their defensive consistency, but conceded that once chances were created, they needed more ruthlessness in front of goal.
Glasner highlighted the efforts of Pino, Kamada, Mateta and Uche, noting that while they all came close, none delivered the decisive moment.
The result keeps Palace’s unbeaten run intact, extending it further and maintaining momentum, though questions remain about whether they can sharpen their attack to convert dominance into wins.
Sunderland, meanwhile, gather confidence that they can compete defensively in this league and that they have the character to frustrate strong teams. The draw reflects a match where the balance of play favoured one side heavily, but the other side’s resolve and a superb individual performance prevented any return empty-handed.