QPR 0-0 Sunderland: Jobe Bellingham sent off as Black Cats held

Jobe Bellingham was sent off as Sky Bet Championship leaders Sunderland were held to a 0-0 draw at QPR.

Bellingham was shown the red card 13 minutes into the second half for a crude challenge on Zan Celar as the Black Cats midfielder was trying to retain possession after a heavy touch.

Struggling Rangers, one off the bottom of the table of the table and still without a home win this season, were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage.

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However, a second successive goalless draw against one of the division's heavyweights - they held Burnley in their previous match - seems like another step in the right direction for Marti Cifuentes' side.

With a number of players already sidelined, Rangers suffered another blow when key defender Jake Clarke-Salter was ruled out because of a recurring calf problem.

It meant Sam Field, usually a midfielder, was deployed as a centre-back, but QPR defended well and created several openings.

Sunderland went closest to scoring in the first half when Dan Neil volleyed against the post from near the edge of the penalty area.

Wilson Isidor missed a chance for the visitors, shooting wide after being found by Trai Hume, who also fired an effort wide.

Rangers threatened as well in the first half and striker Celar, yet to score since his summer move to west London, missed an early chance to put them ahead. Paul Smyth linked up nicely with Nicolas Madsen and crossed towards Celar, who was unable to sort his feet out and clumsily shot wide of the target.

QPR also threatened from a couple of Ilias Chair corners, with Field heading straight at goalkeeper Simon Moore and Jimmy Dunne flicking the ball just wide.

Chair curled a free-kick over the bar early in the second half, while Patrick Roberts went close at the other end when he cut in from the right flank and saw his left-footed strike deflect narrowly wide.

Sunderland were below par but still dangerous when attacking and would have hoped to turn the screw as the game went on but they were dealt a major blow when they were reduced to 10 men.

Bellingham's dismissal galvanised Rangers and Celar fired just wide of the far post before Dunne's header was saved by Moore.

As QPR tried in vain to break the deadlock late on, youngster Kieran Morgan - making his full debut - sent two strikes wide and Moore held a dangerous cross from substitute Lucas Andersen.

The managers

QPR's Marti Cifuentes:

"I see my team playing with big personality and, despite some setbacks, trying to be strong and focus on what we can control, which is our performances.

"We contained a team like Sunderland to almost no chances. There are a lot of positives and my job is to make sure that we reflect on that.

"No excuses - keep on working until it works. I'm aware we're not here to draw games, we're here to win, but the better we play the more chances we're going to have to win and this performance is a step in the right direction.

"We're missing the victories, I'm aware of that, but look at the progress and trust in what we are doing.

"We need to do better, but I see progress in the team that hopefully will give us the results we're chasing."

Sunderland's Regis Le Bris:

"We feel we can play better football but to be competitive in this league we have to face many games and a variety of styles of play.

"So we have to master all the phases of the game and I think this was a good exercise for us because it was 10 against 11 for 30 minutes, away, and we did well.

"The players were OK. We have a core in the team who can manage many different situations.

"We weren't able to play the game we wanted to play and we can have a bit of frustration, you want to play a specific way, but it's another clean sheet. It's another layer for the team."

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