SEB LARSSON admits Sunderland underperformed dramatically in Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham, but claims the only saving grace from another disappointing afternoon at the Stadium of Light is that the club’s FA Cup run continues.

On a day that saw Chelsea, Manchester City, Southampton and Tottenham all crash out of the competition, Sunderland ensured they would be one of just ten Premier League sides in this evening’s fifth-round draw.

They will have to win a replay at Craven Cottage a week tomorrow to progress to the next round, but after playing the final 28 minutes of this weekend’s game with ten men following the dismissal of Jack Rodwell, their presence in the hat for tonight’s draw is an achievement of sorts.

Not, however, that it felt that way as the Stadium of Light crowd were voicing their disapproval at the end of the 12th home game this season that has failed to result in a victory.

“It’s putting it mildly to say that things didn’t come off,” said Larsson. “It was a poor performance full stop, but the only positive thing is that we are still in the cup.

“You only have to look at the other results to see what can happen, and sometimes football baffles you. We really wanted to go through, but we didn’t play well enough to beat Fulham. We will have to play a lot better at their place.”

Sunderland’s failure to break the deadlock means they have scored just eight goals in their last 13 matches in all competitions, a dreadful record that suggests deep-rooted problems in terms of a lack of creativity and attacking incision.

Gus Poyet’s switch to a 3-5-2 formation was an attempt to introduce more attacking options into his side’s play, but while the Black Cats were reasonably bright as they lost 2-1 at Tottenham, Saturday’s goalless draw was as unadventurous as anything they have produced all season.

While Emanuele Giaccherini and Ricky Alvarez remained on the bench, a midfield trio of Liam Bridcutt, Larsson and Jack Rodwell toiled away to limited effect, even before the latter was dismissed midway through the second half.

“We know we have not won enough games at home, simple as that,” said Larsson. “We would love this to be a place where we win more or less all the time, and we are trying our best to make that happen.

“At the moment it is just not happening, but we have to keep plugging away, working hard and keep asking the fans to back us. Hopefully, it will come good.

“This was only the second game where we have played with two boys up top, but something has obviously not worked for us at home in the way we would want.

“At the start of the season we played a lot of the top teams at home, and we just couldn’t get enough wins early on. We will plug away, and I am sure we will put it right.”

Jermain Defoe’s arrival from Toronto FC was an attempt to add some goalscoring threat to the Black Cats ranks, but the former England international continues to search for his first Sunderland goal.

His efforts have hardly been helped by a chronic lack of service from midfield, but Larsson remains confident his new team-mate will prove a success in the second half of the season.

“Hopefully, Jermain coming in, getting match fit and playing will help us,” he said. “He was close a couple of times (against Fulham), even though we didn’t play anywhere near our best football.

“You can see the ability he’s got, and hopefully he can strike a partnership with someone. But there is also a responsibility on us to put the ball in the box and create the chances he needs.”

* Sunderland’s replay with Fulham takes place at Craven Cottage on Tuesday, February 3 (8pm). Tickets for the game go on general sale at 9am this morning, with advanced purchase tickets priced at £15 for adults and £5 for over-65s and under-21s.