Sam Allardyce maintained his unbeaten start as Blackburn manager as his side held on to a narrow 0-0 draw away to Sunderland on Friday.

Sunderland created few good chances in a unspectacular first half, with Steed Malbranque going close to breaking the deadlock in the 18th minute. The Blackburn defense failed to clear a simple ball, allowing Malbranque to take possession near the edge of the penalty area but the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder failed to hit the target.

Blackburn looked to have had taken the lead a minute into the second half when Christopher Samba put the ball into the net but referee Martin Atkinson ruled out the attempt for hand ball and showed a yellow card to the defender.

The visitors went close minutes later when Martin Fulop pulled off a brilliant save to deny Morten Gamst Pedersen from a free kick in the 52nd minute. The Sunderland keeper was called into action seven minutes later when Keith Andrews raced past his markers but failed to beat Fulop with an attempted chip shot.

Blackburn should have had taken all three points in the injury time when Jason Roberts latched on to a long ball from Pedersen, managed to beat Fulop but somehow failed to pass the ball into an empty net as Blackburn came away from the match with just a point.