Coventry and Sunderland split the points in a Championship draw, despite each might have won it late on.
The two teams have been unable to duplicate their success from last season, which propelled them to the play-offs.
The hosts controlled the first 45 minutes, with Anthony Patterson twice saving from Matty Godden, while Kasey Palmer sent over a lovely pass that Ellis Simms, who scored seven goals in 17 games for Sunderland before being loaned out to Everton last season, couldn’t convert.
Former Black Cats goalkeeper Ben Wilson stopped his former team with a double save from Dan Neil and Dennis Cirkin.
That chance seemed to rally the visitors, with Jack Clarke, Trai Hume and Luke O’Nien all taking shots at the Coventry goal.
Substitute Yasin Ayari and Haji Wright came close to beating Patterson late on, while skipper Kyle McFadzean blocked Jude Bellingham’s effort to ensure the game remained scoreless.
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The result leaves Coventry 11th in the Championship, and also ended Godden’s three-game scoring start to the season.
They had more total opportunities and attempts on goal, and are now undefeated in three games following their opening weekend setback to rivals Leicester, but they couldn’t get past Patterson, who was in outstanding form.
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has emphasized the club’s need for a striker, after Simms’ departure from the Stadium of Light last season.
Bradley Dack has taken on part of the duty while Ross Stewart recovers from an injury, but neither he nor Bellingham, who has excelled since signing from Birmingham this summer, have been able to break the deadlock.
Mowbray’s side are 18th in the table, with only one win from the opening four matches.
Coventry manager Mark Robins told BBC Radio CWR:
“It was two good teams trying to win a game.
“We’ve got to be better in the final third. We got into decent positions but it just fell down at the end bit – they’ll be saying similar things.
“Two really good sides cancelled each other out in the end and we just couldn’t find that winner.”
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Newcastle:
“I’d have been happy with a point and a clean sheet beforehand, but the game unfolded differently than I expected.”
“I expected us to come in and dominate possession like we did last year, but they were good with the ball in the first half, picked us off, and pushed us back.”
“We made a few adjustments, and I thought we played better in the second half.” We got into some fantastic situations, but the final ball didn’t fall our way.
“When we don’t score, we’re always disappointed.” We don’t have a killer number nine, and I doubt we will by the end of the window – they don’t fall from the sky, do they?”
