SUNDERLAND 0 - WOLVES 0: SIMON MIGNOLET TO THE RESCUE

SUNDERLAND’S owner-chairman Ellis Short may be looking up – but his side failed to break down opponents who are almost down and out. American billionaire Short has been so impressed with the BlackCats’ form since Martin O’Neill replaced Steve Bruce as manager in December that he admitted in the match programme he is targeting a top-six place next season. But Wolves’ interim boss Terry Connor, who took over after former Sunderland chief Mick McCarthy was sacked in February,claimed only his second point in his ninth game in charge. It must be something to do with the bracing North East air, because Connor’s other point came in a 2-2 draw at Newcastle in his first match at the helm. He might have finally been a winner yesterday but Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet denied Steven Fletcher, whose header was goalbound nine minutes from time. O’Neill said: “We had chances andwe had to be thankful for a great save by our keeper, too. But we didn’t do enough to win the game. “It’s very nice of the chairman to say what he did, but this is getting back to a reality check. “It might show that we have a lotof work to do. We’ve pulled ourselves around from potential relegation and, in mid-table, you might coast towards the end of the season. “We don’t want to do that. In the last couple of games, we might be able to have a look at one or two of the younger players, but we would need to strengthen.’’ Connor said: “We’re delighted to take a point and keep a clean sheet. “But with a bit more quality finishing, we could have taken all three points