Sunderland's Gavin McCann lifted the gloom a the Stadium of Light with a penalty shoot-out winner against Blackburn in the FA Cup fourth-round replay.

McCann, who had also scored the Black Cats' second goal as the tie ended 2-2 after normal time, saw his spot-kick squirm past Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel to take Sunderland into a home tie with First Division Watford.

Sunderland had looked on course to reach the fifth round without the help of extra-time and penalties thanks to goals from Kevin Phillips and then McCann after Rovers' Garry Flitcroft had netted an equaliser.

But Flitcroft took the game into extra-time with a 90th-minute second equaliser before it went to the penalty shoot-out.

Phillips netted the first penalty for the home side before David Thompson shot over the top.

Kevin Kilbane made it 2-0, and then Andy Cole saw his spot-kick saved by Thomas Sorensen before Jody Craddock blazed over the bar.

Corrado Grabbi's penalty was saved by Sorensen, and then McCann's effort was blocked initially by Friedel only for the ball to evade his grasp and cross the line.

Teams:

Sunderland: Sorensen, Gray (Oster 114), Thome, Craddock, Wright, Arca (McCartney 87), Thornton, McCann, Kilbane, Phillips, Proctor (Kyle 116).

Subs Not Used: Macho, Thirlwell.

Booked: Proctor.

Goals: Phillips 10, McCann 79.

Blackburn: Friedel, McEveley (Douglas 45), Johansson (Grabbi 82), Taylor, Neill, Berg, Tugay, Flitcroft, Thompson, Cole, Yorke (Ostenstad 72).

Subs Not Used: Jansen, Kelly.

Booked: Neill, Thompson.

Goals: Flitcroft 50, 90.

Att: 15,745

Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).