It is all Blackburn now into the final three minutes of stoppage time but they cannot get through a stern Sunderland rearguard.

Another ball into the area is punched away by Marton Fulop and Dwight Yorke completes the clearance for Sunderland.

Aaron Mokoena gets some contact in the area from the corner and it is somehow hacked off the line and knocked out for another corner which is headed clear.

Sunderland have adopted a 4-5-1 formation but it's attracting Rovers to get forward as Carlos Villanueva's shot deflects out for a corner.

Danny Simpson looks to have hauled down Kieran Richardson but no free kick or yellow card given by the referee to the astonishment of Roy Keane.

The ball is bobbling around in the Sunderland area but Matt Derbyshire cannot get a clean connection as Marton Fulop gathers.

Andy Reid's corner into the middle is cleared but Blackburn can only breathe a sigh of relief when Djibril Cisse is penalised for a foul.

Zurab Khizanishvili gets in a geat block to deny Djibril Cisse as he pulled the trigger from a Kenwyne Jones lay-off.

Blackburn are now enjoying some possession but are struggling to break down the defence, while they look vulnerable on the break with Djibril Cisse lurking.

Djibril Cisse tries to burst his way towards the Rovers goal but he is crowded out by the defence this time.

Another corner for Sunderland who look like they are going for third now but Zurab Khizanishvili clears the danger.

This game has completely turned on its head this second half as Sunderland have battered Rovers off the pitch and deserve to be in front.

Danny Collins bursts down the flank and puts his cross in but Aaron Mokoena is on hand to clear. Andy Reid collects it and his cross is over-hit so it's a goal kick to Blackburn.

Djibril Cisse turns and fires an ambitious effort from about 30 yards out which is wide. It would have been a goal of the season contender had it gone in.

Kenwyne Jones is okay to continue and we have played over 20 minutes of this second half with virtually no time to take a breath as Kenwyne Jones again goes close.

A head injury for Kenwyne Jones stalls the game as it looks like he got an arm in the face off Zurab Khizanishvili.

Keith Andrews tries a snap shot here and it just goes over the top in a warning to Sunderland that Rovers are still in this game.

Christopher Samba is on hand to save Rovers again by dispossessing Kenwyne Jones as they are under massive pressure from Sunderland.

A free kick chance now for Sunderland outside the area and in shooting distance. Kieran Richardson fires it in and Paul Robinson tips it over.

Sunderland win a corner again now which is played into the middle but the offside flag goes up and Rovers win a free kick.

Kenwyne Jones is causing all sorts of problems here for Blackburn but this time he cannot get a clean shot on goal.

Stephen Warnock hits his shot from 20 yards which takes a deflection for a corner. Morten Gamst Pedersen's ball in is cleared easily.

It is end-to-end this game now as Rovers look like they are wanting to get back in front but it's been all Sunderland.

Christopher Samba to the rescue now as he heads the ball away from another dangerous cross into the Rovers area as Sunderland have started like a steam train here.

A great start for Sunderland here as a ball into the area sees Kenwyne Jones thump his header off the crossbar from Steed Malbranque's cross.

Sunderland win a corner as Keith Andrews nicks the ball off Kieran Richardson late in the half. Richardson plays it in but Aaron Mokoena manages to get it clear.

We are approaching the end of the half and, although the crazy pace has dropped off slightly, it has still been a hectic opening period.

Kieran Richardson tries is luck from distance for Sunderland but Christopher Samba is in the right place to block. Sunderland break again and Dean Whitehead whips the ball back in but it drops out for a goal kick.

Another corner kick for Blackburn - their sixth of the half - which Morten Gamst Pedersen plays in but Marton Fulop manages to punch away despite slipping.

Anton Ferdinand does well to nip in and take the ball from Jason Roberts after Danny Collins allows the ball to bounce past him.

Sunderland have managed to get themselves back into the game but the defences are winning at the moment.

A Sunderland corner causes chaos in the Blackburn area now but the home side manage to clear after a bit of pin-ball.

It's a dangerous free kick on the edge of the area for Blackburn after another foul by Nyron Nosworthy. Keith Andrews fires his shot through the seven-man wall but Marton Fulop dives to his left and makes a great ave.

Sunderland are fuming as they win a free kick for a foul on Kenwyne Jones just inside the Rovers half when advantage should have been played.

Another dangerous free kick for Blackburn here is chipped into the middle but Andre Ooijer heads straight at Marton Fulop.

Djibril Cisse gets a chance at the other end as he takes the shot first time, but lifts it wide of the goal over the advancing Paul Robinson.

Jason Roberts wins a corner off Anton Ferdinand and it's played into the middle but Marton Fulop gets up and takes the catch cleanly.

Danny Simpson tries to whip a ball into the middle but Sunderland manage to get in a block and clear the danger as the match swings from end-to-end.

Sunderland counter attack but the move breaks down as Kieran Richardson's ball through towards Kenwyne Jones is hit too hard and runs on to Paul Robinson.

That almost changed as Kenwyne Jones forces Paul Robinson into a save from an angle following an error by Zurab Khizanishvili. Sunderland just getting back into it now.

It's been an enjoyable opening 20 minutes with the only surprise being that neither side has managed a goal.

Keith Andrews somehow escapes a booking as he deliberately jumps and handles the ball as Blackburn were on the attack.

Sunderland attack now as Blackburn fail to clear the danger from a Danny Collins ball into the middle and Djibril Cisse forces Paul Robinson into a save.

Roy Keane does not look too happy with the way this game is going but he should look at the positives as his side are still level despite being dominated in the opening 15 minutes.

A third corner from Morten Gamst Pedersen is headed away by Dean Whitehead as Blackburn are well on top in this game.

Two quick corners for Blackburn and Marton Fulop has to punch clear but Danny Simpson plays the ball back in and wins another corner.

Morten Gamst Pedersen forces a fine parrying save from Marton Fulop with a stinging left-foot free-kick from 30 yards.

A chance for Sunderland as Kieran Richardson lashes a cross into the middle but it is just too high for the head of Kenwyne Jones in the centre.

It's been a breathless opening here and Blackburn might feel they should be 2-0 ahead already after missing a sitter and hitting the woodwork.

That header was deflected out off a defender so it's another corner for Rovers from Morten Gamst Pedersen and Roque Santa Cruz sees his effort smack off the bar.

Danny Simpson caps off a seven-pass move and wins a corner off Kieran Richardson. Morten Gamst Pedersen whips the ball in from the right and it is inches wide off Zurab Khizanishvili.

It's good pressure from Blackburn here as they look to build attacks from the back but Sunderland's defence is holding firm for now.

Christopher Samba does well to out muscle Kenwyne Jones on the edge of his own area and that looks like it will be an interesting battle this afternoon.

It's been a real hectic start to this game with Nyron Nosworthy doing well to get in front of Jason Roberts as he chases a through ball.

Stephen Warnock misses a sitter for Blackburn at the other end as he fires wide inside the area following a Keith Andrews knockdown to him in front of goal.

Kenwyne Jones nicks it away from a defender and wins a very early corner in the opening seconds of this game! The ball is played in by Kieran Richardson and headed behind by Anton Ferdinand.