Sunderland: Martin O'Neill's first game as Sunderland manager ended in victory as his side beat Blackburn 2-1 thanks to goals from David Vaughan and Sebastian Larsson. Rovers to a surprise lead when Simon Vukcevic tapped home from close range after Keiren Westwood parried Chris Samba's shot into his path.
The Black Cats were on top for most of the game but had to wait till the final 10 minutes before getting the breakthrough as Vaughan crashed an effort home in the 83rd minute.
Sunderland up the ante in the final minutes to get the winner as Rovers sat back and Larsson curled a free-kick into the bottom corner to seal the win for the former Villa boss.
O'Neill made three changes for his first game as Connor Wickham, David Vaughan and Titus Bramble came in for the suspended Lee Cattermole, Nicklas Bendtner and Ji Dong-Won.
Wickham's start was a surprise after being out since the start of last month after injuring his ankle in the Black Cat's clash with Manchester United. While Bendtner missed out due to injury sustained last week's defeat to Wolves.
Bramble was recalled to the Sunderland team for the first time since September's 2-1 defeat to Norwich following allegations of Sexual Assault.
Steve Kean made two changes from his side that beat Swansea 4-2 last week with Michel Salgado and Simon Vukcevic replacing David Hoilett and Ruben Rochina in the starting line-up. Salgado slotting in at right-back allowing Jason Lowe to partner David Dunn in the midfield.
Sunderland had the best on the early play as their forced set-pieces but couldn’t trouble Paul Robinson in the Blackburn goal despite good deliveries from Sebastian Larsson and Kieran Richardson.
Rovers managed to slow the game down following the Black Cats fast start and four goal hero of Yakubu had a decent chance to open the scoring when he was put behind the Wearsiders defence however Bramble managed to get back in time to make a good challenge to prevent the shot.
Kean's side took the lead in the 17th minute when Chris Samba's peeled off the Sunderland defence and his deflected shot was parried by Keiren Westwood only as far as Vukcevic who tapped the ball into the net from six yards.
The Black Cats nearly got straight back into the game through Richardson who latched onto Stephane Sessegnon's cross, after good work down the right from Wickham and the Benin international, but Robinson made a brilliant save at his feet.
Richardson was again denied minutes later this time by the body of Scott Dann who threw himself in the way of the former Manchester United man’s left-footed shot after he was again put in by Sessegnon.
Sunderland kept pushing forward but couldn't find that elusive goal as four of the Wearsiders attempted to beat Robinson but a combination of good defending from Rovers and poor finishing prevented the Black Cats from getting the breakthrough.
Both sides had decent chances late in the half but couldn't convert them thanks to some stout defending and keeping as the home side went into the break looking frustrated.
The Black Cats started the second half in a positive fashion and again had early chances without really threatening the Blackburn net as efforts from Sessegnon and Richardson went wide of the goal.
Larsson, who's scored twice from set-pieces this season, nearly got Sunderland back into the game with a strike from a free-kick which just whistled past Robinson's post.
Rovers slowly came into the half but were looking the more likely to snag a goal as Yakubu put himself about in the box and nearly created enough space for shot but was crowded out by Bramble.
The resulting clearance from the Black Cats landed at the feet of Dunn who fired an effort at goal which just crept over the Westwood’s bar with the Irish international at stretch to ensure the ball didn’t dip into the net.
This sparked Sunderland back into life and Richardson again went close as his volley from outside the box was deflected and looked to be goal-bound before Robinson stuck out a hand to divert the ball from the net. A great reaction save from former Spurs man.
O’Neill brought on Irish winger James McClean and the youngster nearly provided a goal within minutes of coming on the field as he beat his man down the left and hit a wonderful cross into the box but Sessegnon could only head wide.
Sunderland kept pressing and finally found a way through the Blackburn defence and Robinson when Vaughan hit a powerful effort towards goal and it flew into the top corner of the net.
The Black Cats up the ante and were really starting to crank up the pressure on the Rovers goal but Samba and Dann were holding firm when crosses were raining down in the area.
However, Blackburn gave a free-kick away on the edge of the box which Larsson bent into the bottom corner past Robinson to send the Stadium of Light into raptures as Sunderland secured the points.
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