Rovers in Cruz control after sloppy defence sinks Keane's men

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Ultimately, it was the manner of defeat against his former Old Trafford team-mate, rather than the scoreline, that so angered Sunderland's manager. Two Rovers goals inside two minutes dashed the home side's hopes, and David Bentley's opener and Roque Santa Cruz's swift follow-up both owed everything to defensive ineptitude. "Two soft goals cost us," said Keane.

Cruz control: Blackburn Rovers' Roque Santa Cruz celebrates scoring against Sunderland

"When a player makes a mistake there's nothing you can do about it and that's what happened with the second.

"I was more disappointed with the first and the fact that Santa Cruz was allowed to run so far unchallenged."

Keane may have been upset that another late goal from Grant Leadbitter counted for nothing, but Sunderland's manager recognises the value in facing clubs of Blackburn's calibre.

A post-match drink with Hughes was as much about tapping into his former team-mate's managerial experience as it was a meeting of old friends and like minds.

Keane is keen to learn lessons and wants his players to follow suit.

"He's done well in his first management job and he's building something special at Sunderland," Hughes said of his opposite number.

"What I have over Roy is the benefit of continuity. This is my fourth season at Blackburn and I think that showed."

It certainly did. Within 10 minutes of the restart, Rovers proved their obvious pedigree under their meticulous manager.

A fixture mired in mediocrity prior to the break suddenly burst into life in the 53rd minute and Sunderland's centre-half, Danny Higginbotham, will not look back fondly on the pivotal part he played in Blackburn's unexpected ascendancy.

If he was unfortunate to deflect the ball into Bentley's path for Rovers' opener, then the woefully short backpass that allowed Santa Cruz to double the lead was unforgivable.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon; McShane, Nosworthy, Higginbotham, Collins; Leadbitter, Yorke (Murphy 66min), Miller, Wallace (Connolly 65); Chopra (O'Donovan 66), Jones. Subs (not used):Ward, Harte. Booked: Collins.

BLACKBURN (4-4-1-1): Friedel; Emerton, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock; Derbyshire (Pedersen 66), Mokoena, Tugay (Savage 75), Dunn (Rigters 86); Bentley; Santa Cruz. Subs (not used): Brown, Khizanishvili.

Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).