Bookings: Costa (55, unsporting behaviour), O’Shea (76, foul), Matic (86, foul), Vergini (89, dissent), Gomez (90, foul)

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicester) – Bottled what would have been a massive decision when he failed to censure Costa for his petulant attempted kick at O’Shea. It should have been a red card. 2

Attendance: 45,232

Entertainment: **

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1):

8 Pantilimon: Made an excellent save to deny Ivanovic and dominated his area as he claimed a succession of crosses - a much better bet than Mannone at present

8 Vergini: Defended superbly to negate the threat of the dangerous Hazard and clipped the crossbar with a fine first-half strike

8 O’Shea: Gave everything to ensure Chelsea’s play-makers could not get through him and produced a brilliant first-half challenge to deny Costa

8 Brown: Massively influential throughout as he stuck closely to Costa and dealt with a succession of passes into the box

8 Reveillere: Have Sunderland ever made a better free signing? Solid in the tackle and assured in possession, his influence grows with every game

9 CATTERMOLE: Another defensive midfield master-class from a player at the peak of his powers – had more blocks than a box of Lego

6 Johnson: Tracked back diligently enough, but wasn’t really an attacking threat and wasted a great late chance for a winner

8 Larsson: Ran Cattermole close for the man-of-the-match honours as he ran himself into the ground and tackled ferociously

7 Rodwell: Justified his recall in place of Gomez as he bolstered the central midfield area and got in the face of Chelsea’s attacking midfielders

8 Wickham: His pace and direct running ensured Sunderland carried an attacking threat to go with their defensive resolve – is clearly warming to his left-wing role

7 Fletcher: Fed off scraps for the most part, but generally held the ball up well and never shied from a physical confrontation with Terry

Subs:

6 Gomez (for Rodwell, 62): Added some creativity in the central area, but also ensured Sunderland’s defensive resolve was not reduced by his introduction

6 Altidore (for Fletcher, 62): Isn’t to everyone’s liking, but his muscular approach asked some new questions of the Chelsea defence in the final half hour

(not used): Mannone (gk), Coates, Bridcutt, Buckley, Alvarez.

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1):

Courtois 7; Ivanovic 7, Cahill 7, TERRY 8, Azpilicueta 7; Matic 7, Fabregas 5; Willian 6 (Schurrle 85), Oscar 5 (Drogba 76), Hazard 6; Costa 6 (Remy 76).

Subs (not used): Cech (gk), Luis, Zouma, Mikel.

Man Of The Match: LEE CATTERMOLE – This has been the best season of the midfielder’s Sunderland career – and Saturday’s display was arguably his best ever performance in a red-and-white shirt.