Full-time: Sunderland 0 Swansea City 0

THIS was another afternoon of frustration for Sunderland as that elusive first victory of the season continues to evade Gustavo Poyet.

Despite seeing Swansea City play the final ten minutes with ten men when right-back Angel Rangel, who had been cautioned for kicking the ball away, received a second booking for a body-check on the lively Will Buckley, the Black Cats could not find that bit of magic in the final third.

Buckley, Adam Johnson and substitute Ricky Alvarez all had their moments when they created something, but there was still very little for Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to worry about.

Fabianski did have to make the occasional save, but Sunderland had to make do with yet another point. While they are not losing many matches in the Premier League, this was a fifth draw from six games and they remain too close to the bottom three for comfort even at this stage.

Poyet opted to include right-back Billy Jones and winger Buckley in his starting line-up after impressing in the midweek Capital One Cup defeat to Stoke City, but the pace was slow until the latter created something out of nothing.

Buckley, on the right, floated over a lovely centre. Connor Wickham, preferred ahead of Jozy Altidore in attack, flicked to the back post and Adam Johnson directed a volley on target which Fabianski turned behind strongly for a corner.

Swansea threatened very little in the first half and Sunderland had the better chances. Buckley, the main creative source in a red and white shirt, went close when he cut inside from the wing and saw a shot blocked by Wales defender Ashley Williams. Fabianski saved Jones’ rebound.

After the breakdown of a Sunderland corner later in the half, Seb Larsson’s attempt at a shot bounced towards the towering Santiago Vergini , who flicked a header that was destined to creep inside the back post. Fabianski was again on hand to dive low to turn for another flag-kick.

After a decent enough start to the second half from Swansea saw Mannone hold a low shot from Gylfi Sigurdsson, Sunnderland found their feet again as the half wore on and looked more dangerous once Ricky Alvarez was brought on.

Buckley created a couple of half chances with his probing, while Wickham was guilty of directing a close range header over the bar from Larsson’s perfect delivery in to the area.

And then Rangel, who had been booked for dissent earlier in the half, saw red for a body check on Buckley with ten to go. After that Wickham and Steven Fletcher, his replacement, headed great chances off target, as the problems in front of goal continued.

SUNDERLAND: Mannone; Jones, O’Shea, Vergini, Van Aanholt; Cattermole; Buckley, Rodwell (Gomez 58), Larsson, Johnson (Alvarez 65); Wickham (Fletcher 75). Subs: Pantilimon (gk); Bridcutt, Altidore, Mavrias.

SWANSEA CITY: Fabianski; Rangel, Williams, Fernandez, Taylor; Shelvey, Ki; Routledge, Sigurdsson, Dyer (Montero 65); Gomis (Bony 70). Subs: Tremmel (gk), Emnes, Bartley, Carroll, Richards.