While Chelsea's goalkeeper, Carlo Cudicini, continues to enhance his reputation in a manner that nobody expected at the start of the season, the opposite is true of two teams who are achieving far less than their supporters desire.

The root cause was not hard to detect yesterday. Chelsea have scored a mere seven goals in their last eight league matches and Sunderland have mustered only 13 in the league all season, so a stalemate was always the probable outcome.

However, this encounter did not fit the usual mediocre mould of goalless draws. It was a fiercely contested affair, as illustrated by Sunderland manager Peter Reid's V-sign towards the Chelsea bench as tempers flared towards the end. Perhaps it was frustration, because the game deserved a goal and Sunderland deserved to score it.

Cudicini, the third-choice goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge only a few months ago, was the reason they did not. The Italian blocked a Kevin Phillips penalty and made three other splendid saves.

The defence in front of Cudicini also competed impressively, but Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's failure to retain possession and some dreadful decision-making reduced Chelsea's effectiveness.

Cudicini's most impressive contribution was a reaction save from a powerful misdirected header from his own defender, William Gallas, after 31 minutes, but it was his penalty save from Phillips that shaped the second half.

Celestine Babayaro bundled over Kevin Kilbane only 40 seconds after the restart to give Phillips the opportunity, but Cudicini guessed correctly when he went to his right to block the kick.

SUNDERLAND: Sorensen, Gray, Williams, Thome, McCartney, Arca, Thirlwell, McCann, Kilbane, Laslandes (Quinn 68), Phillips. Subs Not Used: Macho, Butler, Clark, Schwarz. Booked: Arca.

CHELSEA: Cudicini, Babayaro, Terry, Gallas, Melchiot, Stanic, Jokanovic, Dalla Bona, Lampard, Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen (Forssell 89). Subs Not Used: de Goey, Zola, Keenan, Slatter. Booked: Stanic, Dalla Bona, Jokanovic.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).