Sunderland and Rovers unchanged for meeting

Ricky Sbragia and Sam Allardyce both fielded unchanged sides as Sunderland and Blackburn looked to put back-to-back wins together.

Black Cats caretaker Sbragia kept faith with the 11 men who started the 4-1 victory at Hull last Saturday, their second successive Barclays Premier League triumph, although there was a seat on the bench for striker El-Hadji Diouf after his spell of compassionate leave.