Jack Rodwell was sent off as Sunderland were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Fulham in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The clubs will face a replay at Craven Cottage in the first week of February.

Sunderland found joy in wide areas in the opening few minutes, with Patrick van Aanholt getting forward at every opportunity, but there was nobody to get on the end of his crosses.

Rodwell was the first player to try his luck after 18 minutes, but the midfielder's long-range strike flew harmlessly wide.

Fulham's young strike duo proved tricky to keep under wraps, though, and Cauley Woodrow was denied from close range by Vito Mannone before Moussa Dembele forced the Italian stopper into a stretching save with a clever chip.

Sebastian Larsson almost handed the Black Cats the lead with a mishit cross on 33 minutes, but Marcus Bettinelli backpedalled to push the ball over the bar.

Four minutes before the break, Steven Fletcher should have put the hosts ahead, but his header from close range flew over the bar.

Jermain Defoe almost netted his first goal for the club since his move from Toronto, but Bettinelli pushed the forward's 61st-minute effort onto the post.

Defoe came close just three minutes later, but then things turned sour for Sunderland as Rodwell was sent off after being shown a second yellow card.

The hosts continued to pour forward and Bettinelli saved well from Defoe, Van Aanholt and Connor Wickham in quick succession, but Sunderland were unable to find a way through as the game ended in a stalemate.