Rovers cruise past Sunderland

Sunderland 1 Blackburn 2

David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz combined to condemn Sunderland to their second home defeat of the season as Blackburn ran out comfortable winners at the Stadium of Light.

Bentley opened the scoring on 53 minutes and Santa Cruz collected his fifth goal of the season two minutes later to hand manager Mark Hughes a deserved victory over former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane.

The home side felt they should have had a 41st-minute penalty for Brad Friedel’s challenge on Michael Chopra, and Grant Leadbitter’s 90th-minute strike proved scant consolation.