Sadly, what it didn't bring was all three points.

It's fair to say the Black Cats bossed proceedings in the first half, but for all our possession and efforts on goal we couldn't find the net.

Had we done so the points would have been there for the taking, and we could now all be sleeping a lot easier.

This, however, is Sunderland, a club where the word easy just doesn't come into the equation.

Of course, Wanderers made much more of a fist of things after the break, and if it had not been for a superb save from Marton Fulop at the death, we could have come away from the Reebok Stadium with nothing to show for our efforts.

After recent displays against West Bromwich Albion and Everton, Sunderland were in real need of a performance against the Trotters.

And while they couldn't deliver a win, hats off to the players for a gutsy display.

For the first time in the last couple of weeks they looked like they wanted it, and the way we started you thought it would only be a matter of time before we found the net.

Unfortunately, Kieran Richardson in particular seemed to have left his shooting boots back on Wearside.

Not that the midfielder didn't go for goal at every possible opportunity, it's just that he was off target far too often.

Special mention must go to the away following at the weekend, who were once again in tremendous voice.

I know I shouldn't really expect anything else, but having witnessed the displays against the Baggies and the Toffees, you wouldn't have blamed them if they had voiced their anger again at the weekend.

Thankfully, they were 100 per cent behind their team, and roared them on for the full 90 minutes.

Sadly, the players couldn't deliver the win they and the supporters craved, and so squeaky-bum time continues.

Now they must deliver again away to Portsmouth this weekend, because if we are being honest the final home game against Chelsea is a write-off.

No offence, but if we can't put the Trotters to the sword then bringing the Blues' multi-million pound all-star squad to their knees seems like mission impossible.

Of course, it could be all over by then, and if things go our way (please God) then we could know exactly what is required of us by the time we take to the field at Fratton Park next Monday night.

Then again, this being Sunderland, our fight for survival is more than likely to go right to the wire.

That may not have been the case had we just managed to nick a win on Saturday.

But we didn't, so it's back to waiting, watching, and hoping that the teams below us continue to slip up.