Sunderland 2-1 Blackburn: Vaughan & Larsson cap dramatic late comeback to secure Martin O'Neill win in first match at the helm

Martin O’Neill’s first game as Sunderland manager ended in victory as his side beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 thanks to goals from David Vaughan and Sebastian Larsson.

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Rovers earned a surprise lead when Simon Vukcevic headed home from close range after Keiren Westwood parried Chris Samba’s shot into his path.

The Black Cats were on top for most of the game but had to wait till the final 10 minutes before getting the breakthrough as Vaughan smashed a magnificent effort home in the 83rd minute.

Sunderland upped the ante in the final minutes to get the winner with Rovers sitting back and got their reward as Larsson curled a free-kick into the bottom corner to seal the win.

O’Neill made three changes for his first game as Connor Wickham, Vaughan and Titus Bramble came in for Nicklas Bendtner, Ji Dong-Won and the suspended Lee Cattermole.

Wickham’s inclusion was perhaps the biggest surprise after his absence since the start of last month through an ankle injury sustained in the Black Cats' clash with Manchester United.

Striker Bendtner had failed to recover from an injury sustained in last week’s defeat to Wolves whilst Bramble was recalled to the Sunderland team for the first time since September’s 2-1 defeat to Norwich following allegations of sexual assault.

Steve Kean made two changes from his side that beat Swansea 4-2 last week with Michel Salgado and Vukcevic replacing Junior Hoilett and Ruben Rochina in the starting line-up. Salgado slotted in at right-back to allow Jason Lowe to partner David Dunn in midfield.

Sunderland had the best of the early play as they won several set-pieces, but couldn’t trouble Paul Robinson in the Blackburn goal despite good deliveries from Larsson and Kieran Richardson.

Rovers managed to slow the game down following the Black Cats' fast start and last week's four goal hero Yakubu was at the heart of it.

The Nigerian was presented with a chance to open the scoring, being played behind the Wearsiders' defence, before Bramble managed to get back in time to make a good challenge to prevent the shot.

Kean’s side took the lead in the 17th minute when Chris Samba’s peeled off the Sunderland defence and his deflected shot was parried by Westwood only as far as Vukcevic who tapped the ball into the net from six yards.

The Black Cats nearly got straight back into the game through Richardson who latched onto Stephane Sessegnon’s cross, after good work down the right from Wickham and the Benin international, but Robinson made a brilliant save at his feet.

Richardson was again denied minutes later this time by Scott Dann who threw himself in the way of the former Manchester United man’s left-footed shot after he was again put in by Sessegnon.

Sunderland kept pushing forward but couldn’t find that elusive goal as four of the Wearsiders attempted to beat Robinson but a combination of good defending from Rovers and poor finishing prevented the Black Cats from getting the breakthrough.

Both sides had decent chances late in the half but couldn’t convert them thanks to some stout defending and goalkeeping meaning the home side went into the break looking frustrated.

Hard fought | Goalscorer Vukcevic and O'Shea battle for possession

The Black Cats started the second half in a positive fashion and again had early chances without really threatening the Blackburn net as efforts from Sessegnon and Richardson went wide of the goal.

Larsson, who had scored twice already from set-pieces this season, nearly got Sunderland back into the game with a strike from a free-kick which just whistled past Robinson’s post.

Rovers slowly came into the half and were even looking the more likely to snatch a goal as Yakubu put himself about in the box and nearly created enough space for a shot but was crowded out by Bramble.

The resulting clearance from the Black Cats landed at the feet of Dunn who fired an effort at goal which just crept over the Westwood’s bar with the Irish international at full stretch to ensure the ball didn’t dip into the net.

This sparked Sunderland back into life and Richardson again went close as his volley from outside the box was deflected and looked to be goal-bound before Robinson stuck out a hand to divert the ball from the net.  A great reaction save from former Spurs man.

O’Neill looked to the bench for inspiration bringing on Irish winger James McClean and the youngster nearly provided a goal within minutes of his introduction.

He beat his man down the left with ease and hit a wonderful cross into the box only to see Sessegnon head wide.

Sunderland kept pressing and finally found a way through the Blackburn back line when Vaughan lined up a Blackburn clearance to hit a powerful effort into the top corner of the net.

The Black Cats pushed hard for a winner but Samba and Dann held firm when crosses were raining down in the area.

Blackburn have had little fortune this season however, and this was surmised as they gave a free-kick away on the edge of the box with just seconds remaining.

Larsson, who had previously gone close from a set-piece, bent the ball brilliantly into the bottom corner past Robinson to send the Stadium of Light into raptures and seal the points.