Blackburn Rovers dealt brutal lesson in 3-1 Sunderland loss

Blackburn Rovers suffered a 3-1 loss to Sunderland as a result of their carelessness in front of goal, and they lamented their wasted opportunities.

Dan Neil and Jack Clarke both scored twice to set up Harry Leonard’s second of the year. Despite having had excellent opportunities to score, Jon Dahl Tomasson’s team left Ewood Park empty-handed.

Leonard, Sam Szmodics, and Andy Moran all missed opportunities in the first 25 minutes due to the woodwork, goalkeeping, and last-ditch defence.

Ryan Hedges was forced to bring down the Sunderland forward as he sought to clear after Clarke stole in front of him and made Rovers pay for their carelessness in front of goal. The former Leeds and Spurs winger recovered to score the opening goal against the flow of play.

However, Rovers’ aggressive play continued, and they eventually received their just rewards. Harry Leonard nodded in Callum Brittain’s beautiful cross to score his second goal of the year from six yards out.

More opportunities came and went, and the Black Cats once more made the Rovers pay. Dan Neil capitalized on a sloppy clearing during the first half’s added time by charging forward, firing a sharp shot past Aynsley Pears and into the bottom corner.

The second half saw stronger resistance to Rovers’ attempts to draw even. Dilan Markanday, a substitute, got the closest with a low shot that connected with the post’s base.

But Sunderland’s gameplan worked a treat and they got the chance they hoped for and wrapped up the game. Hayden Carter was caught on the ball and Clarke punished him, scoring from close range to wrap up the game.

The backdrop promised plenty of excitement in a game filled with narrative. Ok, sure, neither Bradley Dack nor Corry Evans were fit to take their place in the Sunderland XI but Tony Mowbray’s second return to Ewood Park was enough to whet the appetite.

On the pitch, it was a match-up of two very young, very attacking group of players. The Black Cats defied all odds to reach the Championship top-six last season and went even younger with their summer shopping. Like Rovers, they’ve gone for the youth approach with their squad building.

Sunderland had shown their 5-0 drubbing of Southampton wasn’t a flash in the pan, coming from behind to beat ten-man Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. Their blend of youthful exuberance and attacking flair looked set to tee up a mouthwatering clash.

The big question for Tomason was in his team selection. With Sam Gallagher sidelined for six weeks, it was Harry Leonard who got the nod ahead of Semir Telalovic. Tyrhys Dolan made way for Andrew Moran in the other, unsprung, alteration. Youngster James Edmondson was rewarded with a place on the bench with Arnor Sigurdsson and Sondre Tronstad involved with the Under-21s against Hertha Berlin in the Premier League International Cup.

Any fears that the game would not live up to the billing were quashed early on in a breathtaking start. In a familiar story, Rovers should’ve been several goals ahead by 25 minutes.

The early indications were promising, with Rovers once more taking the initiative, pressing hard, and making their presence known to the opponents. With a fantastic volley from a tight angle, Leonard came close to repaying Tomasson’s faith, but it missed the target and hit the crossbar.

That was the evening’s central idea. Sunderland couldn’t handle the free-flowing football of Rovers because they were constantly being cut open. However, the ball would not find the net.

What followed was a barrage of pressure, a siege on the Sunderland goal. Travis and Moran were denied by good reflexes from Patterson, with the Brighton & Hove Albion loanee also blasting over.

Tomasson rolled the dice to try and find a breakthrough. On came Tyrhys Dolan, Markanday and Joe Rankin-Costello to try and change the course of the match. Frustration began to creep in as the chance dried up, though not for a lack of effort.

Markanday set about trying to change that and came the closest of any Rovers player in the second half. He quickly chopped the ball onto his left foot and hit a low drive which clipped the base of the post and went to safety.

Sunderland had sat back soaked up the pressure in the second half and eventually got their chance to end the contest. Rovers were caught playing out from the back and that left them three against one, with Clarke scoring from close range to end the match.

It was another harsh lesson for this young Rovers side. Unlike against Middlesbrough, Sunderland had the quality to punish them. 80 per cent of their play is worthy of a top-six side but a lack of ruthlessness in both boxes will prove costly.