The first game for Harry Redknapp as Queens Park Rangers manager did not quite go according to plan, while Christian Benteke struck a crucial winner for Aston Villa to take all three points against Reading in the English Premier League game at Villa Park.
Redknapp, in his first match in charge, oversaw a QPR side that did not concede a single goal, but could not find one past the Sunderland defense either at the Stadium of Light.
In a cagey game, where neither side did really enough to warrant all three points, even if QPR might have controlled more of the possession, Djibril Cisse and Jamie Mackie had the best chances for the away side, while Sunderland's opportunities again fell to the only person who looks like he can get a goal for the team - Steven Fletcher.
"It was a good performance, there were a lot of positives tonight," Redknapp said. "I feel more optimistic than I did on Saturday, I must be honest. I thought tonight was good for us.
"Confidence is key in anything you do. That's the key, I've got to keep encouraging them. It's no good knocking anybody. When you are bottom of the league your confidence is low.
"What you are relying on now -- there's a group who have travelled all this way tonight from London to support the team and we've got to give them something to get behind.
"QPR reminds me of my time at Portsmouth. The fans were very similar, great supporters, same kind of stadium -- small stadium -- and if they really get behind us on Saturday I think the team can respond.
"I think we can become difficult to beat at home. We've got to win some games obviously but we've got to make the home form count -- and the fans will play a big part in that."
In the other game of the night, Benteke was Villa's hero as the striker rose highest from a corner to power home a header in the 80th minute. The win took Villa out of the relegation zone, momentarily at least, until the rest of the teams play Wednesday.
"He is an absolute credit to the game of football," Villa manager Paul Lambert told Sky Sports about Benteke. "For someone who is only 22 years of age, he has been absolutely fantastic.
"I know the effort has been absolutely fantastic," he added. "To play Arsenal and go again on the Tuesday was a big, big effort and I am delighted with them.
"Even when you are up against the bigger teams, the onus is on the home team to try and come out of the blocks. I have got to give them a lot of credit for carrying on."
