Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Sunderland
Sunderland fell to defeat on the road against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
Goals in either side of the half-time from Ben Brereton-Diaz and Scott Wharton did the damage as the result saw Lads slipped to 12th in the Championship table.
Despite a valiant attacking effort on the night, a resilient Rovers held on to win the game on an unfortunate night for the returning Tony Mowbray.
Like he did on Saturday, Mowbray made one change for the game with former Rovers man Corry Evans being restored to the starting line-up to face a side he spent eight seasons with. Lynden Gooch made way after picking up a minor injury in the win over Wigan Athletic.
The Lads gave the hosts an early scare when a neat passage of play between Alex Pritchard and Jack Clarke freed the run of Dennis Cirkin into the box who flashed his effort wide of the mark from the angle.
Pritchard threatened the Blackburn goal from 20 yards after seizing upon a loose pass but his bending effort whistled just past the angle of bar and post.
The Lads fell behind just after the half mark. Clarke was denied a penalty moments before a Blackburn breakaway was finished by a curling finish from Brereton-Diaz which flew into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Great defending from Luke O’Nien prevented Rovers from adding to their lead moments later as he headed Sammie Smzodics dangerous cross over his own bar.
Up the other end, Clarke climbed highest to meet O’Nien’s cross from the right but was prevented by Thomas Kaminski’s diving save. Sunderland ended the first half with Pritchard’s deep free-kick forcing Kaminski to claw the ball away from reaching the top corner.
The hosts doubled their lead shortly after the restart when Ryan Hedges whipped free-kick from the right was glanced home by the head of Scott Wharton.
Mowbray’s side rallied back into the game as Kaminski palmed out Danny Batth’s header from inside the six yard box.
Sam Gallagher showed improvisation to latched onto the end of Callum Brittain’s cross from the left but his side footed volley trickled wide of Anthony Patterson’s goal. The Sunderland keeper was then on hand to keep a tight grip on Brereton-Diaz’ low shot from the edge of the box.
Sunderland continued to throw numbers forward in attack in an attempt to claw a point from the game but their efforts fell in vain as the Lads tasted defeat on the road.
Sunderland AFC: Patterson; O’Nien, Batth, Alese (Hume 73’), Cirkin; Evans (Michut 81’), Neil (Ba’ 64’); Roberts, Pritchard (Bennette 64’), Embleton (Amad 64’); Clarke
Subs not used: Bass, Wright
Blackburn Rovers: Kaminski; S Wharton, Hyam, Carter; Brittain, Garrett, Morton, Szmodics (Dolan 78’), Hedges; Gallagher (Vale 78’), Brereton-Diaz
Subs not used: Pears, Mola, Buckley, Phillips, A. Wharton