Sunderland fans clash with police

Angry Sunderland fans clashed with police at the Stadium of Light after their relegation-haunted side slipped to defeat against Blackburn.

An announcement made on police advice towards the end of the game advised spectators that the Murray Gates, the scene of a demonstration against chairman Bob Murray after the home defeat by Wigan a fortnight ago, would be cordoned off.

That was greeted angrily from the stands, and hundreds made their way to the area after the final whistle to air their frustration.

It is understood some tried to break through the police cordon and were led away.

Caretaker boss Kevin Ball declined to comment on the protest, the second of his three-game reign, preferring instead to concentrate what happened on the pitch.

“We started the game very well and after conceding the goal the way we did, it’s then important you get a reaction and I thought we did that as well,” he said.

“It was just that elusive goal we needed to give the players and everybody involved a lift.

“It wasn’t going to come today.”

Republic of Ireland midfielder Steven Reid was allowed to run from halfway and pick his spot with keeper Kelvin Davis helpless, and his 15th-minute strike proved enough to clinch the points.

“At times, you analyse goals and how they can be prevented,” Ball said. “I’ve already seen it on the DVD downstairs and I’ll have another look at it and we will deal with it on Monday.

“It’s important we look at things, make people aware of responsibilities and then after that, move on.”

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes admitted the fear of becoming the first side to lose at Sunderland this season was a motivating force for his European hopefuls.

Rovers arrived at the Stadium of Light to face a side which had drawn four of its previous 11 Premiership games and won none, and determined not to allow them to put that right.

In the event, they need not have worried as Reid’s goal strengthened his side’s claim on a top-six finish and plunged the Black Cats closer to an inevitable relegation, much to Hughes’ relief.

“There’s a feeling between a lot of managers that when you come to Sunderland, there’s always that feeling that at some point, Sunderland will win a home game this year,” he said.

“You always worry it’s going to be against you, so we are delighted to have got this fixture out of the way and come away with three points.”

Reid’s solo effort was the decisive moment in a game which never really caught fire despite a late rally by the home side in which they might have won a penalty for handball by Lucas Neill.

“We had to withstand a little bit of pressure towards the end of the game, which you expect being the away side, and they got a few balls into the box that we had to deal with,” Hughes said.

“But throughout the majority of the game, we coped really well with any balls into the box.

“I always felt the first goal was going to be the important goal today, and I’m thankful we got it.

“I always felt it would be difficult for Sunderland to come back and overturn that.”