Harry Redknapp took charge of Queens Park Rangers for the first time this evening as they made the trip to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland.
The Hoops are rock-bottom of the Premier League and without a win all season, but three points tonight would have seen them draw within three points of safety.
The two teams played out a 0-0 draw in front of a frustrated following, meaning that the Black Cats have only won one of their last 10 home games.
You can read how all the action unfolded below.
Good evening! Welcome to Sports Mole for live coverage of tonight's Premier League clash between Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers. Harry Redknapp will be looking to get his reign at Loftus Road off to a good start, while the Black Cats are looking to bounce back from Saturday's defeat at home to West Brom.
We have some team news for you...
Mignolet; Bardsley, Cuellar, Kilgallon, Rose; Larsson, Cattermole, Gardner, Johnson; Sessegnon; Fletcher
Cesar; Bosingwa, Nelsen, Hill, Traore; Mackie, Mbia, Diakite, Granero, Taarabt; Cisse
The two teams have only met in the Premier League on two previous occasions - last season. Sunderland won both games, completing a double over the Hoops.
The last time QPR beat Sunderland away at Roker Park back in 1991. However, Sunderland have only won one their last nine home games. Something must give though, as QPR have only taken one point away from home.
Djibril Cisse starts for QPR against his former club. He was sent off in this fixture last season so will be looking to leave a better lasting impression this time around.
The players are making their way onto the pitch and we're just moments from the whistle at the Stadium of Light.
QPR get this game underway...
Granero tries to finds Cisse with a ball into the box but Mignolet deals with the Frenchman's header comfortably.
Gardner strikes a free kick cleanly but it's way off target. Cesar sees it behind untroubled.
Sunderland sub: Lee Cattermole has hurt his knee in a challenge with Samba Diakite and will be replaced by Jack Colback.
Traore drives a low ball into the box that's put behind for a corner by Cuellar.
Taarabt shakes off two challenges but can't find Cisse. Sunderland win the ball and Sessegnon breaks down field, but he can't find Fletcher. Both teams are lacking something so far.
SAVE! Cisse hits a snap-shot on the edge of the area that Mignolet is forced to tip around the post.
It's been a rather dull start to proceedings at the Stadium of Light. Both teams have had 50% of the ball, but neither has done anything with it.
Sunderland have the oportunity to deliver a ball into the box from a free kick. Johnson stands over it...
Cuellar gets a flick to help it on its way and Cesar is forced tip over the bar.
SHOT! Cisse has a dig and catches it well, but it rises high and wide of Mignolet's goal.
Sessegnon tries to volley from Fletcher's headed knock-down but it bobbles wide.
QPR have just had a decent spell of possession around the Sunderland area but still failed to create anything.
Another Sunderland free kick. Gardner and Larsson conspire between them...
It's Gardner, but it's poor...
With 30 minutes played, it's not been great. It's still very even.
Sessegnon gets into the QPR box but delays his shot too long. It's blocked by Diakite and cleared.
Bardsley has a go from a ridiculous position when he had the chance to put a cross into the box. That has to be frustrating for Martin O'Neill.
CHANCE! Big chance for QPR! Taarabt slips in Mackie but Mignolet dives at his feet to deny him. The ball breaks to Taarabt but his shot can't find a way through the mass of Sunderland shirts between him and the goal line! The Black Cats survive!
SAVE! Brilliant stop by Cesar! Fletcher runs onto Johnson's through ball and fires at goal, but the Brazilian turns it around the post. It's sprung into life, this game!
CHANCE! Nelsen gets his head to Granero's corner but can't muster any power on it.
Sunderland 0-0 QPR
So it remains goalless at half time, thanks to the two goalkeepers Mignolet and Cesar. The game was a non-event for 35 minutes, but the pace picked up considerably in the final 10 minutes of that half.
You can read Sports Mole's half-time report for this fixture by clicking here.
It's still 0-0 in tonight's other game in the Premier League between Aston Villa and Reading. You can follow that match by clicking here.
QPR sub: Robert Green is going to replace Julio Cesar between the sticks.
Sunderland resume play in the second half...
Traore's cross picks out Granero but his header is straight at Mignolet.
QPR are keeping possession well and the home crowd are starting to get a bit frustrated.
Diakite is shown a yellow card, with Andre Marriner holding up four fingers to signify that he is being booked for repetitive fouling.
CHANCE! John whips in a sumptuous ball from the left and Green puts his face on the line to deny Fletcher opening the scoring! Brave goalkeeping!
SHOT! M'Bia unleashes a ferocious right-footed shot that whistles just past Mignolet's post!
SAVE! Great stop by Green! Fletcher got his head to Larsson's corner but the England international got down well to stop and hold onto it!
QPR sub: Samba Diakite makes way for Park Ji-Sung.
Colback is brought down by Hill and Sunderland have a free kick just outside the area. Hill goes into Marriner's book.
Gardner strikes the free kick straight into the wall. Both teams have wasted their set pieces tonight.
Sunderland sub: James McClean comes on for Adam Johnson.
So 15 minutes to go and the deadlock has still not been broken. The game is very scrappy at the moment and neither team have been able to string many passes together.
QPR sub: Adel Taarabt will be replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Sunderland sub: Louis Saha replaces Craig Gardner.
Nelsen nearly gets his head to Granero's corner but is inches away from making contact.
Sessegnon turns Traore expertly out wide on the right, but tries to beat him again and misses the opportunity to deliver for Fletcher.
Jamie Mackie has been booked for QPR.
CHANCE! QPR make a fast break down the field and nearly score! Granero clipped the ball into Mackie who slipped in Wright-Phillips, but his shot was straight at Mignolet.
There will be four minutes of time added on at the end of this game.
CLOSE! McClean whips in a dangerous ball from the left and Sessegnon gets in front of his marker Traore, but can't quite get his head on it.
Bosingwa goes down trying to win a free kick near Sunderland's corner flag. It was shameful.
Sunderland 0-0 QPR
So QPR's wait for a win this season goes on. The Stadium of Light faithful are unhappy with that result and greet the final whistle with boos. It was the right result, but both managers will be worried about their lack of teeth up front.
Written by
Michael Penkman
Michael Penkman
