Manager Mick McCarthy expressed his disappointment at his side's failure to create chances with only the woodwork denying Coventry a late winner.
"It was disappointing, possibly our worst home performance of the season, and that's not taking anything away from Coventry," he said.
"They are a good side and while we bemoaned our luck at West Brom last week, we were possibly lucky to get a point today.
"It was frustrating and I am not happy about it and while not winning at home has not been a problem because we have been creating chances, that wasn't the case against Coventry."
Sky Blues player-manager Gary McAllister was disappointed that his side had not won but believes his side is on the up.
He said: "We proved we can compete with the fancied teams and if we can get a little run going, we won't be far away from being involved.
"I'm always looking to strengthen the side but having Julian Joachim back gave us another dimension - he is a quality Premiership player."
Joachim was a constant threat to the home side throughout and he was only a whisker away from snatching a late winner with a diving header.
Only minutes earlier Youssef Safri hit the bar with a 20-yard free-kick and McAllister fired just past the post in a frantic finish.
The best chance, however, fell to Kevin Kyle who was gifted a great chance in the 57th minute by substitute goalkeeper Scott Shearer.
But the Scotland international blasted the ball against the goalkeeper and then made a complete hash of finding the empty net from the rebound.
Marcus Stewart failed to hit the target from two first-half chances while Calum Davenport, Joachim and Stephen Warnock all went close for the visitors.
Sunderland missed the creativity normally supplied by the suspended John Oster and on-loan Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing failed to make much impression on his home debut.