Sunderland just can't contend with Bellamy and only a wayward pass by the striker thwarts a chance from Kuqi.

Blackburn almost get a third, as Bellamy picks up the ball and smashes a half-volley off the post with Davis beaten.

A half-chance for Arca after some good work from Murphy, but the Argentinian's lob drifts past the post.

Gray is brought down on the edge of the area to give Blackburn a dangerous free-kick. Robbie Savage lays the ball off but Reid's strike is about two-yards over the bar.

Bellamy senses a possible hat-trick but Davis is out very quickly to deny the striker and clear the danger.

Tommy Miller wins the ball well and Sunderland look to break, but Kyle's poor pass is too far ahead of Stead who was bearing down on goal.

Danny Collins pushes forward and tries to thread a ball through to Whitehead, but Rovers clear without too many problems.

Leadbitter does well again on the edge of the box, Arca's cross picks out Lawrence but he heads tamely wide.

Kyle plays in young Grant Leadbitter, who's shot shot forces a decent save from Friedel but the linesman's flag was already up.

Blackburn win a corner tanks to some hard work from Bellamy, but Sunderland have stood firm on set-pieces.

Arca gets free on a rare occasion and his cross is aimed to Kyle, but the ball skids off the striker's head.

Sunderland are struggling to get the ball off the home side now and it probably won't be long until Mick McCarthy makes a change.

Pedersen is coming more into the game in the early stages of the second-half and Nosworthy has his hands full to stop him.

Rovers have started brightly and keep the ball well. Gray eventually swings in a high cross and Reid's header would have sneaked in at the near post but for a decent stop from Davis.

A half chance for Sunderland at the end of the half, George McCartney's cross reaches Lawrence but his weak shot is blocked by Michael Gray.

The Sunderland bench and Kevin Kyle are incensed as the linesman gives a throw to the Black Cats but Keith Stroud over-rules him.

The visitors appeared to stemed the tide for now and are trying to get the ball wide to their danger players, Lawrence and Arca.

Blackburn are really on top now and are looking to grab a crucial second goal. Reid cross fizzes accross goal and no-one can get a final touch.

Tugay does well, beating two-men but as he tries to pull the trigger Sunderland get bodies in the way.

A scrappy patch in the middle of the park with neither side able to keep the ball and string anything together.

Morten Gamst Pedersen tries his luck with a 25-yard freek-kick and although it dips late, it's still a couple of feet over.

Sunderland have really come into this game and Friedel looks uncomfortable when punching away Liam Lawrence's corner.

Nosworthy does well again down the right, but should have looked up and picked out Kyle and just fires a cross-shot across the face of goal.

Nyron Nosworthy gets down the right and his cross picks out Kyle, but the Scot's header is collected under his bar by Brad Friedel.

It's a bit like attack against defence at present, with Sunderland struggling to clear the danger and Kyle left stranded up front.

Sunderland's first attempt on goal, but Julio Arca's long-range effort is well over after Kyle's knock down.

Blackburn certainly look the brighter and Sunderland are sitting very deep at the back. Bellamy's latest shot is tame though and straight at Davis.

Steven Reid has broken the offside trap but is so surprised the referee has waved him on that Kelvin Davis is out quickly to deny him.

The first words exchanged this evening, as Bellamy doesn't like a stiff challenge from Breen.

Lucas Neill overlaps well down the right and plays the ball to Pongolle, the Frenchman's shot-cum-cross drifts just wide of the upright.

Already keeping the ball is a problem for the Black Cats, with Kevin Kyle trying to hold onto the ball against four home defenders.

Gary Breen does well to snub out an early Rovers threat, blocking Pedersen's cross from the left.