Neither side created too many clear cut chances, and ultimately had to settle for a sharing of the spoils at Home Park.
The result leaves the Black Cats sixth in League One, albeit with a game in hand on Argyle and Wycombe Wanderers above them.
Reflecting on the stalemate, Sunderland manager Alex Neil admitted that he felt a number of his key players were struggling with fatigue after a hectic recent fixture schedule.
He said: “Plymouth have brought a couple of front players late on and we’re really light in certain areas at the moment.
“I thought, Ross [Stewart] and Broady [Nathan Broadhead], if I could have I would have liked to have changed them to freshen things up, to help them to be honest.
“In the last 20 minutes, to be fair to the lads, they’ve run themselves into the ground.
“We’ve flogged Ross Stewart in particular into the ground this year, but unfortunately for him there isn’t anybody else and that’s difficult.
“It is what it is, we have to rest them up now and get them ready for the next games.”
With that in mind, a positive summer of recruitment will be key for Sunderland, regardless of which division they end up playing their football in next term.
Check out the latest League One transfer speculation below...
1. Imps set to open talks
Lincoln City will step up talks with their out-of-contract players now they have cemented their League One status. (LincolnshireLive)
2. Terriers keen on Boyle
Huddersfield Town are eyeing a summer transfer move for one of their former academy players in the form of Cheltenham Town defender Will Boyle. (Alan Nixon)
3. Latics weigh up Bray swoop
Wigan Athletic are considering a move for Leeds United youngster Owen Bray. (Alan Nixon)
4. Iredale expected to leave
Cambridge United boss Mark Bonner admits that he expects defender Jack Iredale to leave the club this summer. Bolton Wanderers are among the sides who are understood to be interested in signing him. (CambridgeshireLive)