Sunderland's inability to convert chances unless they fall to Jermain Defoe made relegation a near-certainty on Saturday as Burnley, the Premier League's worst away side, secured a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light.
Almost beyond belief, another attendance of more than 40,000 turned up in hope of seeing Sunderland's first home win since the 1-0 victory over Watford in mid-December. But after a dismal first half in which Burnley should have taken the lead, home fans saw a significant improvement marred by as inept a display of finishing as could be imagined.
Fabio Borini, Sebastian Larsson, Adnan Januzaj and Billy Jones, whose header sailed comically wide, missed the sort of chances any side fighting desperately to avoid relegation must take.