Blackburn 2-0 Sunderland: Junior Hoilett & Yakubu on target as Rovers move six points clear of drop zone

Blackburn Rovers pulled six points clear of the Premier League relegation zone after second-half goals from Junior Hoilett and Yakubu handed them a 2-0 victory over Sunderland on Tuesday evening.

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The Canadian forward fired home after a defensive mix-up involving Black Cats goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, and his 29-year-old strike partner doubled the host's lead with a header five minutes from time.

The win means Rovers remain 16th in the table, but have now claimed 28 points to put six points between themselves and the chasing pack.

Steve Kean named an unchanged line-up from the side that defeated Wolves 2-0 10 days ago, with Hoilett deployed alongside Yakubu following the Canadian’s double at Molineux.

For the away side, John O’Shea dropped out of the squad completely, with former Liverpool defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos partnering Michael Turner at centre-back, while David Vaughan came into the starting XI for Jack Colback after being named amongst the substitutes for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Everton in the FA Cup.

Rovers started brightly and nearly stole an early lead after some promising link up play between Hoilett and Yakubu.

The 21-year-old won the ball in the middle before driving forward and sliding the Nigerian through in the box, but while the former Portsmouth man was able to squeeze his shot underneath Simon Mignolet, the goalkeeper got enough on the ball to allow Phil Bardsley to clear off the line.

The hosts continued to press, with Martin Olsson unable to get his shot on target after beating Bardsley down the left flank, and Grant Hanley rising at the near post to meet a Morten Gamst Pedersen free-kick, but again, the Sunderland goalmouth was not threatened.

At the opposite end, James McClean and Sebastian Larsson looked to cause problems from wide, but the Blackburn defence did well to cope with a number of dangerous crosses, yet the majority of the attacking impetus came from the home side.

Pedersen nearly saw his corner sneak into the top corner but Sunderland captain Bardsley was on hand to prevent his side from conceding a fortuitous goal.

Fraizer Campbell’s biggest contribution in the opening 45 minutes came when chopping down Olsson just a yard outside the box after cheaply losing possession to the midfielder in his own half, but Hoilett was unable to beat the wall, which again stood firm to block the forward’s rebounded effort.

The former Manchester United striker looked to be through on goal five minutes later after McClean found the 24-year-old in between the Blackburn defence, only for Scott Dann to intercept superbly and clear.

The Black Cats’ best chance of the half fell to Kyrgiakos just before the break after Campbell’s flick-on from a corner, but the Greece international failed to connect with the ball despite ample space in the box.

The second period began much in the same vein, with Mauro Formica flashing a half volley towards goal after Sunderland failed to clear Pedersen’s cross, while Dann found the back of the net from a corner just minutes later, only for the referee to have already awarded a foul against Hanley.

The hosts would not have to wait much longer to take a deserved lead however, as Hoilett bagged his third in two games to fire Rovers into the head.

Confusion between Kyrgiakos and Mignolet in the box following a long throw-in saw the ball fall straight to the Canadian on the penalty spot, and he duly fired home to hand the home side a one goal advantage.

Dann almost doubled Blackburn’s lead just four minutes later, rising above Bardsley to guide the ball towards goal, but his headed effort beat both Mignolet and the post.

After an hour of poor play, conceding a goal finally sparked Martin O’Neill’s side into life, with the lively McClean almost finding Nicklas Bendtner in the six-yard box only for Olsson to prevent the Danish striker with a perfectly-timed challenge.

Ji Dong-Won, who replaced Campbell with 15 minutes remaining, was immediately presented with a golden chance to pull his side level.

Larsson’s cross found its way to McClean on the opposite flank, who cut the ball back across goal to the South Korean, yet the 20-year-old inexplicably hit the ball over the bar from four yards out.

Sunderland were left to rue the miss just moments later, as Yakubu rose to double the home side’s lead with just five minutes remaining.

The impressive Steven N’Zonzi teed up right-back Bradley Orr to cross for the 29-year-old who headed home to ensure a vital victory for Kean in the battle for Premier League survival.