SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1):
6 Patterson: Barely had anything to do on a day when Blackburn scored with pretty much their only opportunity
6 BROWNE: Once again proved he is more than capable of stepping in at right-back if anything happens to Hume
6 Mepham: Always looked comfortable as Blackburn sat back and defended their lead for much of the game
6 O’Nien: Didn’t have to over-extend himself for most of the game – surely a nailed-on starter in the play-offs
5 Anderson: Finally got the chance to make his first league start, but occasionally looked uncertain in possession
5 Samed: Held his position at the base of midfield, but appeared one-paced and rarely passed forward
5 Bellingham: Covered plenty of ground, but never really looked like asking a serious question of the Blackburn defence
5 Watson: Failed to make much of an impact before he was taken off to a mixture of applause and boos
6 Jones: The brightest of Sunderland’s fringe players, displaying some nice touches before he was taken off in the second half
4 Aleksic: Disappointing as he conceded possession cheaply on a number of occasions – is still to make his mark for Sunderland
5 Isidor: Extended his run of games without a goal to 11 matches – whatever Le Bris says, his form is a worry
Subs:
5 Rigg (for Jones, 64): Sunderland missed his drive and direct running before he came on
6 Mayenda (for Aleksic, 64): Showed flashes down the flank after coming on
5 Le Fee (for Samed, 64): Continues to ease himself back into things after his return from injury
Roberts (for Watson, 78)
(not used): Moore (gk), Hjelde, Bainbridge, Middlemas, Neil.
BLACKBURN (4-2-3-1):
Toth 6; Brittain 7 (Montgomery 58, 6), HYAM 8, Batth 7, Ribeiro 6; Tronstad 6, Travis 7; Dolan 7 (Forshaw 74), Woodrow 6 (Tyjon 84), Hedges 7 (Sanderson 74); Ohashi 6 (Gueye 74).
Subs (not used): Pears (gk), Pickering, Rankin-Costello, Buckley.
Man Of The Match: DOMINIC HYAM – Blackburn’s central defenders always had the measure of the Sunderland attack.
