Ten-man Sunderland hold Wolves in thrilling fightback

What followed was genuinely bizarre. Sunderland's discipline completely evaporated as the match wore on. Xhaka picked up a yellow in the 56th minute. Cirkin followed in the 81st. Roefs saw yellow in injury time. Add Brobbey's caution in the first half and Sunderland finished with four yellows and a red. They were lucky Tierney did not lose his temper with them entirely. The question was whether Wolves would finally break through when they had such an overwhelming numerical and territorial advantage, but the truth is that ten-man Sunderland simply would not buckle.

Wolves had their chances. They dominated the second half completely. But in football, dominance means nothing without the final touch, and Sunderland's defensive desperation frustrated every attempt at breakthrough. Roefs made crucial saves when it mattered most. This was not the Wolves performance a team in their position needed to build from. They created enough chances to win three games. They created enough to lose none. Instead they drew at home to ten men, dropping more points in their desperate bid to escape the relegation zone. It is mid-season 35 and Wolves sit 20th, now 29 points adrift of Sunderland. The gap tells you everything you need to know about how this season has gone for Bruno Lage's side. This was less a match than a masterclass in how to waste dominance.