Quinn rocks Rovers

Niall Quinn beats Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel

Blackburn 0-3 Sunderland
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Blackburn will be glad to see the back of Niall Quinn after the the veteran striker eased Sunderland's away-day blues at Ewood Park.

Quinn, who scored the winner when the sides met at the Stadium of Light in September, was once again the difference between the two teams.

The 35-year-old Irishman struck twice in the first half with Kevin Kilbane adding a late third to end a run of four defeats on the road for Sunderland.

  Match facts

17mins: Niall Quinn puts Sunderland 1-0 up

32mins: Quinn scores a second

69mins: Blackburn's Craig Short sent-off for violent conduct

90mins: Kevin Kilbane adds a third for Sunderland

Blackburn have now gone five home games without a win and manager Graeme Souness' mood will not have been helped by Craig Short's dismissal.

The home side, who were looking to build on Saturday's 2-0 success at Charlton, had the better of the early exchanges with Garry Flitcroft almost turning in a David Dunn free-kick.

But it was Rovers old boy Jason McAteer who came closest to fashioning an opening goal

We made Sunderland look like Brazil - we were completely miserable

Blackburn boss Graeme Souness

McAteer, who moved to Sunderland in October, whipped in a cross from the right and saw former team-mate Craig Short slice his attempted clearance against the woodwork.

Quinn should then have done better with a free header in the 14th minute only to be denied by a smart save from Brad Friedel.

But the Sunderland striker made amends three minutes later taking advantage of Blackburn's poor marking to open the scoring.

Quinn sidefooted home a Bernt Haas cross from six yards to end a run of six hours without an away goal for his side.

And they did not have to wait long for a second with Quinn heading a Julio Arca free kick past Friedel shortly after the half-hour mark.

Niall Quinn celebrates with Kevin Phillips

Rovers boss Graham Souness reacted by bringing on top scorer Matt Jansen and Mark Hughes at the break for striker Corrado Grabbi and defender Henning Berg.

Sunderland continued to create the better chances however with Kevin Phillips firing against the base of Friedel's post at the start of the second-half.

At the other end Flitcroft had a chance to reduce the deficit only to shoot over when finding himself clear 12 yards out.

You are not going to play well all the time but I was very pleased with the way we went about it

Sunderland manager Peter Reid

Despite their lead Sunderland were looking shaky at the back and Jansen, playing again after an ankle injury, was only narrowly wide after making space for himself in the area.

But Short's dismissal for apparently raising his arm in a challenge on Sunderland substitute Kevin Kyle effectively ended any hopes of a late rally from Rovers.

Kevin Kilbane set the seal on Sunderland's victory with a last minute goal and Peter Reid's side look back to their best after some indifferent displays in the run-up to Christmas.

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Blackburn: Friedel, Neill (Taylor 66), Short, Berg (Jansen 45), Johansson, Gillespie, Flitcroft, Dunn, Mahon, Duff, Grabbi (Hughes 45).
Subs Not Used: Ostenstad, Kelly.
Sent Off: Short (69).
Booked: Dunn.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Haas, Williams, Thome, Gray, McAteer, McCann, Reyna, Arca (Kilbane 77), Quinn (Kyle 67), Phillips.
Subs Not Used: Thirlwell, McCartney, Macho.
Booked: Thome, Kyle.
Goals: Quinn 17, 32, Kilbane 90.

Attendance: 29,869.

Referee: C Wilkes (Gloucester).