Blackburn R 2 Sunderland 2:FORMER SUNDERLAND forward El-Hadji Diouf clambered off the bench to salvage a point for Blackburn at Ewood Park. Darren Bent's second-half double looked likely to earn Steve Bruce's Sunderland a rare win but Rovers clawed back first through Morten Gamst Pedersen then Diouf. Then in a grandstand finish Marton Fulop parried a point-blank header from Nikola Kalinic – before Chris Samba poked the rebound wide.

Neither side had showed sign of improving their winless recent records in a dismal first half, memorable only for the solid debut of David Meyler in the Sunderland midfield. Meyler had the chance to make an instant name for himself when he let fly in the 22nd minute with a long-range strike which coasted wide of target.

Rovers began the second period with a higher tempo but their anxiety to get forward played into the visitors’ hands. Against the run of play, Daryl Murphy threaded his way into the Rovers box in the 52nd minute and sparked the goalmouth melee which brought the visitors’ opener. Murphy’s low cross was flapped by Paul Robinson into the path of Jordan Henderson. When his shot was blocked by Ryan Nelsen, Bent was on hand to lash in the rebound.

But Rovers responded by drawing level inside a minute, McCarthy’s flick leaving Pedersen in space to drill a low shot in off the post. Rovers could have gone ahead in the 57th minute when Andrews just failed to connect with Pedersen’s cross in front of goal. But the visitors regained the lead against the run of play in the 65th minute when Henderson’s punt sent Bent clear to slide a cool finish across Robinson.

Two minutes later Rovers came close to a second equaliser when Nzonzi spooned a chance over the bar. After Bent was played through to fire a hat-trick chance inches wide in the 72nd minute, Rovers boss Sam Allardyce responded by introducing Diouf, Franco di Santo and Nikola Kalinic in place of McCarthy, Jason Roberts and David Hoilett. And in the 77th minute Allardyce’s brave move paid off when Diouf headed home the equaliser.

BLACKBURN: Robinson, Samba, Givet, Nelsen, Chimbonda, Pedersen, Nzonzi, Andrews, Roberts (Kalinic 73), McCarthy (Di Santo 73), Hoilett (Diouf 74).. Subs not used: Brown, Jacobsen, Olsson, Salgado. Booked: McCarthy.

SUNDERLAND: Fulop, Bardsley, McCartney, Nosworthy, Da Silva, Henderson, Meyler, Cana, Campbell, Bent, Murphy. Subs not used: Carson, Anderson, Liddle, Zenden, Reid, Healy, Noble. Booked: Bardsley, Nosworthy, Da Silva, Meyler.

Referee: Mike Dean.