STOKE CITY extended their unbeaten run to five games after holding Sunderland to a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light in front of the live television cameras on Monday night.

Both sides had chances to secure all three points, but it was the Potters who went closest to securing maximum points through former Black Cat Dean Whitehead and substitute Ricardo Fuller in either half.

The result means the Potters remain in 12th place, some six points clear of the relegation zone with at least one game in hand on the teams around them.

Ahead of the game Tony Pulis made three changes to the starting line-up from the one which ousted Arsenal in last weekend's epic FA Cup 4th Round clash.

Two-goal hero Fuller was dropped down to the bench at the expense of Turkey skipper Tuncay, while both Abdoulaye Faye and Salif Diao were preferred to former Sunderland pair Danny Collins and Rory Delap.

The City boss completed the signing of Portsmouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic shortly before the transfer deadline, while the hosts wrapped up the signatures of Alan Hutton from Spurs and Benjani from Manchester City, however, all were signed too late to feature in the clash.

One player who did feature for Sunderland though was Kenwyne Jones, who spent a period on loan with the Potters during Pulis' initial reign in charge. He was partnered up front by hit-man Darren Bent who had already hit the back of the net on 14 occasions so far this season.

The Potters included six former Black Cats in their squad with Thomas Sorensen, Danny Higginbotham, Collins, Delap, Liam Lawrence and Whitehead all returning back to their old stomping ground. In fact it was Whitehead who squandered a glorious opportunity to put the Potters ahead in just the second minute.

The industrious midfielder latched onto a delightful back-heel from Tuncay, however, with Etherington free inside the six-yard box, Whitehead opted to try his luck and tamely fired the ball straight at Scotland stopper Craig Gordon from eight-yards.

Ten minutes had elapsed by the time the hosts mustered their first real opportunity. Andy Reid fired across a dangerous corner which Ryan Shawcross did well to clear, but the ball fell straight to Kenwyne Jones and fortunately he fired the ball straight into the palms of Sorensen.

Moments later, Etherington was outmuscled by former Tottenham Hotspur man Steed Malbranque just outside the penalty area, and after cutting inside Higginbotham he fired an effort harmlessly wide much to the frustration of the Sunderland supporters.

Pulis was dealt a blow in the 15th minute when skipper Faye was forced off with what appeared to be a recurrence of a back injury which forced him to miss the clash with Arsenal eight days prior. Andy Wilkinson was brought on as his replacement and he slotted in at right back with German star Robert Huth moving into the middle.

The persistence of Tuncay, Whitehead and Etherington continued to put the hosts under pressure as the half wore on, and there pressing led to the Potters calving out another opportunity. Higginbotham picked up a loose ball after capitalising on a mistake from Lorik Cana and dinked it through to Etherington, but his ferocious ball into the penalty area was hacked away from the fast approaching Sidibe by debutant Matthew Kilgallon.

Whitehead was booked midway through the first half for kicking out at Lee Cattermole after a late challenge, whileCattermole was himself cautioned soon after for a late challenge on Whitehead on the right byline.

The hosts soon began to assert some pressure of their own through the lively Jones and Darren Bent up front, but they could find no way through an extremely stubborn City backline. In fact for all their pressure there only real effort of any note came from Reid, who curled a 30-yard free-kick goalwards, however, Sorensen was equal to it.

Neither boss made any changes during the half time interval; instead opting to retain faith with the same starting eleven's in which they ended the first period with. The Potters began the second half in similar fashion to the first and could have been ahead little over one minute in.

Republic of Ireland international Whelan delivered a delightful free-kick right into the mix for Higginbotham to exquisitely volley the ball straight across goal, and after deflecting goalwards via a handful of Sunderland defenders, John Mensah came to the hosts rescue by clearing the ball off the line with Sidibe breathing down his neck.

It was Steve Bruce's side who had the next opportunity and it came after some good work from Jones on the right flank. The giant striker neatly controlled Mensah's long punt forward and delivered a pin-point cross right in to the path of Cana, however, Higginbotham came to City's rescue by throwing himself in front of the Sunderland skipper to divert the ball out for a corner.

Referee Howard Webb then infuriated the home supporters when he waved away their penalty claims after Huth appeared to have handled the ball inside the penalty area.

Pulis threw on Fuller shortly after the hour mark as he went in search of a goal. The Jamaican international replaced Tuncay and was immediately at the heart of the action as he burst down the left and won the Potters a throw-in. Fellow substitute Delap launched a dangerous ball into the penalty area which Jones bravely headed away from Huth.

After Reid scuffed a half chance well wide in the 76th minute, a moment of magic from Fuller almost resulted in the night's opening goal. The powerful and pacy striker brilliantly burst forward and unleashed a ferocious effort which unknowingly to Gordon hit him on the arm and deflected away from goal, just as the travelling 500 or so City supporters looked ready to celebrate.

The visitors continued to look the more likely to snatch the victory late on and could have done so in stoppage time but after rising highest inside the penalty area, Huth glanced Etherington's centre just wide of the left hand post.