Sunderland star Don Hutchison reflected on last night's North-East derby at the Riverside Stadium and insisted 'I can't believe it finished 0-0'.

The visitors battered away at the Middlesbrough defence, dominating much of the first-half during which Kevin Phillips hit a post after rounding visitors' keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Boro fought back after the break but Hutchison said: "I can't believe it finished 0-0.

''We dominated the first-half and we are playing quite well but not scoring.

''Our confidence is still high, especially in home games and we feel we can win our share away.''

The win did little to aid Sunderland's Champions League challenge, and leaves them in sixth spot, although with Arsenal taking on Liverpool in the FA Cup Final, that is likely to be enough to secure a European berth.

''We can't buy a goal,'' sighed Sunderland boss Peter Reid.

''Things are not going for us, although our quality in the final third is not good enough.

''Kevin Phillips has got through one on one and usually eats them up. But we are anxious now and we need one goal to get us going.

''You are always wary when you have had chances and don't not put them in.

"Middlesbrough have a lot of quality players. If you asked us and them, a point is a nothing one.

''The players have done tremendously well and I am convinced there is a big performance round the corner.''

While Sunderland are striving to make an impression at the top of the table, Boro are still in the thick of a relegation battle, lying two points above Coventry in fourth bottom slot.

Their cause was not helped by a late dismissal for French midfielder Christian Karembeu for an altercation with Darren Williams, which Boro director of football Terry Venables insisted should have been dealt with better by referee Andy D'Urso.

''I was very disappointed with the referee's decisions tonight. He didn't get on top of it,'' Venables confessed.

''We all know there are things we shouldn't do. I don't think it is always necessary to send someone off.

''It is a derby and there is a lot at stake and he could have taken the sting out of it.''