Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Sunderland: Rovers go top of Championship

Blackburn Rovers went top of the Championship as they beat former manager Tony Mowbray’s Sunderland on his first return to Ewood Park.

Scott Wharton’s close-range header soon after half-time put Rovers in control despite a hint of offside.

Sunderland pushed to try and get back into the game but they could not find a way past a resolute home defence as Ryan Hedges’ effort from almost halfway with the final kick of the game glanced the Sunderland post.

The win for Rovers, coupled with Norwich’s loss at home to Luton Town, sees them go two points clear at the top of the Championship, although Burnley, Sheffield United and QPR could all go above them if they win on Wednesday.

Sunderland boss Mowbray may feel his side were hard done by for both of Blackburn’s goals. Dennis Cirkin had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Craig Pawson after going down under a Hedges challenge which replays showed should have been a foul.

Twenty-two seconds later Brereton Diaz was celebrating his 100th Rovers start with a goal – two passes and a blocked shot after Cirkin went down the ball fell to the host’s Chilean top scorer and his powerful curling effort gave Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson no chance.

It could have been 2-0 shortly after – Luke O’Nien headed Sammie Szmodics’ cross from the six-yard line over the bar with an unmarked Brereton Diaz lying in wait at the back post, while at the other end Jack Clarke had a header easily saved and Pritchard had a free-kick palmed over as Sunderland finally had some efforts on target as the half drew to a close.

But the game was won soon after the break – Hedges’ whipped free-kick was glanced home by Wharton, although replays appeared to show the defender was standing just in an offside position as the ball came in.

It appeared to kickstart the visitors into action as they had their best spell of the game – Danny Batth had a header well saved by Thomas Kaminski as Sunderland threatened with an urgency to their passing.

Blackburn continued to defend well as Kaminski saved a Jewison Bennette shot with 10 minutes left before Hedges’ outlandish effort in the fifth minute of stoppage time almost embarrassed Patterson.