Cifuentes focusing on the positives after QPR battle to draw

The hosts enjoyed numerical superiority for much of the second half after Jobe Bellingham's sending off for much of the second half but were unable to make it pay against the defiant Black Cats.

And while a sense of what might have been will linger in Rangers' minds, Cifuentes saw plenty of positives from his side's display.

“I know the guys today were not happy at all and I like that kind of mindset,” Cifuentes said. “But at the same time we need to build positivity because otherwise we are always looking at the bad parts of the game.

“I definitely think there are two ways to look at this. The first one is to be disappointed because we had a massive chance to get that win that we really need and we have a feeling that perhaps we can attack better in the last 20 or 25 minutes to get the three points.

“On the other hand, I want to look at the positive side of it. I think it is ia very good performance with a lot of players performing at a really high level.

“We played against a very good team that was well organised, even when they went one man down.”

Sunderland came closest in the first half when Dan Neil struck the post, with headers from Steve Cook and Jimmy Dunne proving the Rs best efforts.

Bellingham's sending off for a high challenge on Zan Celar just before the hour mark increased belief around the home support that their side could claim a notable scalp but they were unable to find a winner, Celar himself coming closest when he curled a shot just wide.

QPR are next in action on Tuesday night, welcoming Middlesbrough to W12 as they seek to secure a second league win of the season.

Cifuentes added: “I think we need to keep on working but if we play at this level we have an opportunity on Tuesday.

“We are going to play against a very good team but we need to focus on ourselves and be ready for a big game and a big performance again, and chase that victory we really need.”