A tale of two penalties. Sunderland didn't score, Rovers did and the home side cruised to the win.
90
A weaving run from Bentley ends in a corner when he might have found Pedersen.
90
Four minutes will be added.
88
Benni McCarthy breaks into the box but shoots wide.
86
Time running out for Sunderland in a game that unravelled very quickly for them after a decent first half showing.
84
Aaron Mokoena makes a mess of a half-chance, nearly hitting the corner flag.
81
Substitution
Martyn Waghorn replaces Kieran Richardson. Last throw of the dice from Roy Keane.
81
Substitution
Andrew Cole replaces Ross Wallace.
80
Nearly an own goal by Daryl Murphy from the resulting free kick but it hits the side netting.
80
Yellow Card
Yet another booking as Danny Collins slides into David Bentley.
79
The game is opening up. Brett Emerton wastes a good chance to cross as Rovers seek to seal the points.
77
Richardson swings in a corner from the right but it beats everyone and is behind for a goalkick.
74
Pedersen is put through but was just offside. Sunderland are trying to press forward, but with 10 men and Kenwyne Jones off injured, they are struggling to do so.
72
Yellow Card
The referee is the busiest man on the pitch at the moment. Christopher Samba is booked for fouling Kieran Richardson.
70
Red Card
Things are going badly wrong for Sunderland. Yorke is outpaced by Dunn and earns a second yellow for a needless foul.
67
Substitution
The Rovers substitute is substituted. Derbyshire hasn't recovered from that heavy Dwight Yorke challenge and is replaced by David Dunn.
64
Yellow Card
Dwight Yorke hacks down Matt Derbyshire and goes into a rapidly filling referee's notebook. Pedersen fires the free-kick over.
62
Yellow Card
Ross Wallace was also booked for protesting at the penalty decision.
62
Yellow Card
Lively stuff. Brett Emerton is booked for a foul on Kieran Richardson, who doesn't like the Aussie's challenge.
60
Higginbotham was livid at that penalty decision - Samba's shot hit him at close range.
58
As against Derby, a Brad Friedel penalty save looks to be the turning point. Rovers playing with much more purpose.
55
Goal
Benni McCarthy makes no mistake. 1-0 to Rovers.
55
Yellow Card
Danny Higginbotham cautioned for dissent.
55
Penalty
Unbelievable! Penalty to Rovers for handball by Danny Higginbotham.
53
Freidel guessed correctly but it was far too close to his left by Whitehead.
51
Saved! Poor strike by Dean Whitehead - Friedel saves a penalty for the second match running.
51
Penalty
Penalty! Christopher Samba penalised for a clumsy push on Daryl Murphy.
46
Immediately more urgency from Rovers, who win a corner that Craig Gordon palms away.
Second half
Things must get better in the second period...
45
Substitution
Grant Leadbitter is on for Kenwyne Jones, who took a knock in the first half.
45
Substitution
Matt Derbyshire is on for Roque Santa Cruz at the break.
Half time
Referee Styles shows mercy and calls time on a disappointing first half.
45
One minute will be added.
42
Yellow Card
Tugay is the first to be cautioned, for deliberate handball.
40
Blackburn have not managed a single attempt on goal this half - definitely a case of looking forward to half time for the home side.
38
Kieran Richardson wins and takes a corner on the left. Cleared to Kenwyne Jones, who shoots straight at Friedel from 18 yards.
35
Blackburn string a few passes together and nearly release Benni McCarthy, who has seen very little of the ball so far.
33
It's becoming an increasingly scrappy affair with little fluency.
30
Bentley delivers into the near post and Santa Cruz wins the header but directs it wide.
28
The home side are being quite direct in their service to the front two but Higginbotham and McShane are holding firm.
25
Better stuff from Rovers as they make progress into Black Cats territory, but there is no end product from Brett Emerton down the right.
23
David Bentley whips a trademark free-kick just wide of Craig Gordon's lefthand post after a handball by Dwight Yorke.
20
Rovers need to get playmaker Tugay onto the ball but are struggling to do so in these windy conditions.
18
The home crowd is growing impatient with their side's poor start, although Sunderland are yet to translate their dominance into clear chances.
15
Morten Gamst Pedersen is limping after coming off second best in a challenge with Dean Whitehead. He's trying to run it off.
12
Daryl Murphy nearly finds Kenwyne Jones with a cross but Sunderland's leading scorer cannot quite reach it. Rovers cannot retain the ball and are camped in their own half.
10
Danny Collins shoots wide of the right post - the visitors have made by far the better start.
7
Christopher Samba clears behind to concede the first corner of the game. Kieran Richardson can only find the near post, easily cleared.
5
Rovers are attacking with the wind in this first half and have seen two forward balls travel straight through to Craig Gordon.
3
Sunderland have started brightly and are enjoying plenty of possession.
Kickoff
Rob Styles blows the whistle. Very cold and windy at Ewood Park.
Awaiting Kickoff
The players are introduced to the crowd and we'll be underway at Ewood Park after a minute's applause in honour of Phil O'Donnell.
Awaiting Kickoff
These teams have only kept five clean sheets between them this season.
Awaiting Kickoff
Rovers won 2-1 at the Stadium of Light in September with goals from David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz, the latter bagging six in his last four appearances.
Awaiting Kickoff
Both teams are looking for an improvement in form, despite winning last time out. Rovers have lost three of their last four at home and Sunderland have picked up only two points from 30 on their travels.
Awaiting Kickoff
Roy Keane brings in Dwight Yorke, Daryl Murphy and Ross Wallace. Dickson Etuhu, Michael Chopra and Andrew Cole miss out.
Awaiting Kickoff
Blackburn make one change from the team that beat Derby County on Sunday: Christopher Samba replaces Zurab Khizanishvili.
Blackburn Rovers
Sunderland
Full time
A tale of two penalties. Sunderland didn't score, Rovers did and the home side cruised to the win.
A weaving run from Bentley ends in a corner when he might have found Pedersen.
Four minutes will be added.
Benni McCarthy breaks into the box but shoots wide.
Time running out for Sunderland in a game that unravelled very quickly for them after a decent first half showing.
Aaron Mokoena makes a mess of a half-chance, nearly hitting the corner flag.
Substitution
Martyn Waghorn replaces Kieran Richardson. Last throw of the dice from Roy Keane.
Substitution
Andrew Cole replaces Ross Wallace.
Nearly an own goal by Daryl Murphy from the resulting free kick but it hits the side netting.
Yellow Card
Yet another booking as Danny Collins slides into David Bentley.
The game is opening up. Brett Emerton wastes a good chance to cross as Rovers seek to seal the points.
Richardson swings in a corner from the right but it beats everyone and is behind for a goalkick.
Pedersen is put through but was just offside. Sunderland are trying to press forward, but with 10 men and Kenwyne Jones off injured, they are struggling to do so.
Yellow Card
The referee is the busiest man on the pitch at the moment. Christopher Samba is booked for fouling Kieran Richardson.
Red Card
Things are going badly wrong for Sunderland. Yorke is outpaced by Dunn and earns a second yellow for a needless foul.
Substitution
The Rovers substitute is substituted. Derbyshire hasn't recovered from that heavy Dwight Yorke challenge and is replaced by David Dunn.
Yellow Card
Dwight Yorke hacks down Matt Derbyshire and goes into a rapidly filling referee's notebook. Pedersen fires the free-kick over.
Yellow Card
Ross Wallace was also booked for protesting at the penalty decision.
Yellow Card
Lively stuff. Brett Emerton is booked for a foul on Kieran Richardson, who doesn't like the Aussie's challenge.
Higginbotham was livid at that penalty decision - Samba's shot hit him at close range.
As against Derby, a Brad Friedel penalty save looks to be the turning point. Rovers playing with much more purpose.
Goal
Benni McCarthy makes no mistake. 1-0 to Rovers.
Yellow Card
Danny Higginbotham cautioned for dissent.
Penalty
Unbelievable! Penalty to Rovers for handball by Danny Higginbotham.
Freidel guessed correctly but it was far too close to his left by Whitehead.
Saved! Poor strike by Dean Whitehead - Friedel saves a penalty for the second match running.
Penalty
Penalty! Christopher Samba penalised for a clumsy push on Daryl Murphy.
Immediately more urgency from Rovers, who win a corner that Craig Gordon palms away.
Second half
Things must get better in the second period...
Substitution
Grant Leadbitter is on for Kenwyne Jones, who took a knock in the first half.
Substitution
Matt Derbyshire is on for Roque Santa Cruz at the break.
Half time
Referee Styles shows mercy and calls time on a disappointing first half.
One minute will be added.
Yellow Card
Tugay is the first to be cautioned, for deliberate handball.
Blackburn have not managed a single attempt on goal this half - definitely a case of looking forward to half time for the home side.
Kieran Richardson wins and takes a corner on the left. Cleared to Kenwyne Jones, who shoots straight at Friedel from 18 yards.
Blackburn string a few passes together and nearly release Benni McCarthy, who has seen very little of the ball so far.
It's becoming an increasingly scrappy affair with little fluency.
Bentley delivers into the near post and Santa Cruz wins the header but directs it wide.
The home side are being quite direct in their service to the front two but Higginbotham and McShane are holding firm.
Better stuff from Rovers as they make progress into Black Cats territory, but there is no end product from Brett Emerton down the right.
David Bentley whips a trademark free-kick just wide of Craig Gordon's lefthand post after a handball by Dwight Yorke.
Rovers need to get playmaker Tugay onto the ball but are struggling to do so in these windy conditions.
The home crowd is growing impatient with their side's poor start, although Sunderland are yet to translate their dominance into clear chances.
Morten Gamst Pedersen is limping after coming off second best in a challenge with Dean Whitehead. He's trying to run it off.
Daryl Murphy nearly finds Kenwyne Jones with a cross but Sunderland's leading scorer cannot quite reach it. Rovers cannot retain the ball and are camped in their own half.
Danny Collins shoots wide of the right post - the visitors have made by far the better start.
Christopher Samba clears behind to concede the first corner of the game. Kieran Richardson can only find the near post, easily cleared.
Rovers are attacking with the wind in this first half and have seen two forward balls travel straight through to Craig Gordon.
Sunderland have started brightly and are enjoying plenty of possession.
Kickoff
Rob Styles blows the whistle. Very cold and windy at Ewood Park.
Awaiting Kickoff
The players are introduced to the crowd and we'll be underway at Ewood Park after a minute's applause in honour of Phil O'Donnell.
Awaiting Kickoff
These teams have only kept five clean sheets between them this season.
Awaiting Kickoff
Rovers won 2-1 at the Stadium of Light in September with goals from David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz, the latter bagging six in his last four appearances.
Awaiting Kickoff
Both teams are looking for an improvement in form, despite winning last time out. Rovers have lost three of their last four at home and Sunderland have picked up only two points from 30 on their travels.
Awaiting Kickoff
Roy Keane brings in Dwight Yorke, Daryl Murphy and Ross Wallace. Dickson Etuhu, Michael Chopra and Andrew Cole miss out.
Awaiting Kickoff
Blackburn make one change from the team that beat Derby County on Sunday: Christopher Samba replaces Zurab Khizanishvili.