Rovers joy as Benni punishes luckless Black Cats

A NIGHT of frustration and regret condemned Sunderland to a seventh successive away defeat and a return to the bottom three of the Premiership.

A second-half penalty from Blackburn’s Benni McCarthy was enough to ensure a home victory but Roy Keane and his players left Ewood Park knowing they had themselves to blame for the defeat having squandered a spot-kick, Dean Whitehead’s effort denied by Brad Friedel, moments before McCarthy’s decisive strike, and then lost Dwight Yorke to an avoidable dismissal after the midfielder collected two yellow cards within minutes.

Keane acknowledged that life at the foot of the Premiership is hard enough without such self-destructive acts and after seeing his side once again end up with nothing despite encouraging signs, the manager was unequivocal in his view that things must change quickly if Sunderland are to avoid a quick return to the Championship.