Tougher Chelsea built to last says Cahill
That stalemate at the Stadium of Light marked the first time Chelsea had failed to score this season and only the third time they had failed to take all three points from a league fixture in the current campaign.
But, rather than dwell on those rare negatives, England international Cahill took heart from the way Chelsea went toe to toe with fired-up Sunderland in a bruising battle.
The Blues refused to be intimidated by Sunderland's aggressive approach and Cahill believes that solidity and togetherness is a vast improvement on last season, when they occasionally tossed away points against inferior but committed opponents.
"I think we are a different side to last year, not just personnel, but mentally I think we are different," Cahill said.
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Tottenham Hotspur's Christian Eriksen (2nd L) takes …
Tottenham Hotspur's Christian Eriksen (2nd L) takes a freekick during their Premier League match
"They made it a scrap, but we matched that and managed to play our football as well.
"When teams sit back and get back in that shape, it's very tough. We saw that last year and this was no different.
"But in these sorts of games, if you don't get the breakthrough, it's important we don't lose the game, and it's a point away from home."
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