Source: Northern_Echo
Blackburn Rovers 2 - Sunderland 2
A DARREN Bent brace helped injury-ravaged Sunderland secure a deserved point at Ewood Park today.[LNB] The Wearsiders withstood a late barrage and only maintained their four match unbeaten league run against Rovers courtesy of a world class save by Marton Fulop.[LNB] An impressive first team debut from David Meyler and Bent's predatory instincts were among the few flashes of quality in a battling display.[LNB] Steve Bruce had to completely reshape the team that earned a point against Everton on Boxing Day after Kenwyne Jones' calf injury forced his withdrawal from the starting line-up. Andy Reid, Steed Malbranque and John Mensah also failed to make the trip after they all picked up knocks.[LNB] In came Daryl Murphy for his debut league start of the campaign while his fellow-countryman Meyler was informed yesterday morning that he would be handed his first ever senior appearance for the Wearsiders.[LNB] The 20-year-old had skipper Lorik Cana to guide him through the game but the youngster's scything challenge on Morten Gamst Pedersen midway through the first half suggested he wasn't going to require a chaperone.[LNB] With Michael Turner serving the second game of his four-match suspension Nyron Nosworthy reverted to a central defensive role alongside Paulo Da Silva while the presence on the Sunderland bench of academy products: Adam Reed, Michael Liddle and teenage striking sensation Ryan Noble showed the paucity of experienced figures available to Bruce.[LNB] The fact that none of the subs made an appearance suggests the manager was wary of exposing too many youngsters to Sam Allardyce's bruisers. Nevertheless, Bruce fielded a bold 4-4-2 formation with Fraizer Campbell returning to the attack partnering Bent and their pace regularly troubled the Rovers back four, In a dreadful first half the absence of Reid and Malbranque was keenly felt by Bruce's team who struggled to carve open any clear-cut opportunities. Sunderland had the first half-chance of the game after only two minutes but Henderson's miscued side-foot bobbled wide of Paul Robinson's goal.[LNB] Rovers had a couple of decent chances to break the deadlock but Benni McCarthy sent a looping header over the bar while Keith Andrews just missed the target with a rising drive.[LNB] Sunderland continued to press on the break but long-range efforts from Campbell, Meyler and Phil Bardsley failed to trouble Robinson.[LNB] With Sunderland missing their more creative players they were forced to scrap for possession in midfield.[LNB] At least Bruce could point to injuries and suspensions for robbing his side of quality.[LNB] Allardyce's teams are hardly renowned for their contribution to the beautiful game and their display was typical of the stodgy fare served up by the former Newcastle United and Bolton boss.[LNB] Pre match form suggested this would be a clash of the incapable versus the ineffective as Blackburn came into the game on the back of a seven game run without a Premier League win while Sunderland hadn't tasted victory for six matches. So it was a shock when the game sparked into life with a couple of goals after the restart. Great work by Murphy on the left flank created pandemonium in the Rovers box allowing Bent to fire home Robinson's parried save.[LNB] It was a classic poachers effort, giving the Sunderland marksman his 12th strike of the season.[LNB] Within less than a minute however, Allardyce's side had drawn level. Pedersen twisted and turned past Bardsley to fire a low drive in off Fulop's near post.[LNB] As the game opened up, a superbly-judged through-ball by Henderson was the catalyst for the visitors to restore their lead.[LNB] The young midfielder has been a revelation this season and his threaded ball to Bent allowed the striker to race past Chris Samba and dispatch a cool finish wide of the England keeper.[LNB] It was Bent's second chance of the game and he almost grabbed a hat-tick with his third, forcing a smart save from Robinson from a stinging drive.[LNB] But a pair of Sunderland misfits prevented Bruce's side from taking all three points.[LNB] Pascal Chimbonda and El Hadji Diouf are remembered as much for their negative influence off the pitch as anything they did in Sunderland colours. But the right-back's hanging cross was met with a towering header by Diouf to ensure Allardyce's side took a share of the points.[LNB] Fulop's quicksilver reactions denied Kalinic a winning goal and suggests that while Sunderland lack experienced heads they are beginning to find a resilience that's been absent from their recent away performances.[LNB]
