Niall Quinn proved there is still plenty of life left in his 35-year-old legs yet with a first half double which ended Sunderland's run of four consecutive away defeats at Ewood Park.

Quinn swooped at the far post to sweep home Bernt Haas' right-wing cross after 17 minutes and headed his second just past the half hour to instil the visitors' huge travelling support with plenty of festive cheer.

Dismal Rovers threw on striking substitutes Matt Jansen and Mark Hughes at half-time in a doomed bid to turn the tide but Craig Short's 73rd minute dismissal for apparently raising his arm in a challenge on Sunderland substitute Kevin Kyle merely increased their woe.

When Sunderland substitute Kevin Kilbane knocked home a simple third in the 89th minute Blackburn were well and truly resigned to their miserable fate - and the Wearsiders had made sure of six points at the expense of Graeme Souness' side.

Kyle, who had replaced Quinn in the 70th minute, instantly became public enemy number one amongst the home fans, and was lucky to escape with only a yellow card less than a minute after his clash with Short when he hacked down David Dunn.

But little could dampen Sunderland's delight, with Quinn's double showcasing his sharp striker's instincts.

First he stole in unmarked at the far post for his opener and then when he rose highest to divert Julio Arca's right-wing free-kick past Brad Friedel.

Kilbane's goal came thanks to Phillips, who sprang the Rovers offside trap and unselfishly knocked the ball across the face of the open goal.

Despite Blackburn's territorial possession in the second half it was Sunderland who came closest to adding to the scoreline prior to Kilbane's strike, with Phillips rattling the post with a curling 46th-minute effort.

Rovers had been reliant on Damien Duff for their first half chances with Italian striker Corrado Grabbi once again well off the pace.

The boos which greeted the final whistle were in contrast to the crowd's early response to Rovers' bright opening.

Keith Gillespie's dangerous first minute effort was charged down by Darren Williams and Garry Flitcroft was inches away from connecting with Dunn's free-kick at the far post.

Sunderland's pressure began in the 10th minute, when Jason McAteer, returning to Ewood Park for the first time after his move north in October, floated in a cross-shot from the right which surprised everybody, most of all Short who sliced an attempted clearance against his own post.

Gillespie and Duff brought simple saves out of Sorensen either side of half-time while Claudio Reyna's effort for Sunderland was headed clear by Nils-Eric Johansson.

The home side camped out in the Sunderland half for the first 15 minutes of the second period but their pressure produced little and the temporary rushes of blood which came along with Kyle's introduction merely stifled any momentum which they may have had.

As Sunderland coasted home Phillips shot well wide before Kilbane converted the simplest of chances, but by then the man who had done the real damage was taking a valuable and well-earned rest on the substitutes' bench.

Teams:

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill (Taylor 66), Short, Berg (Jansen 45), Johansson, Gillespie, Flitcroft, Dunn, Mahon, Duff, Grabbi (Hughes 45).

Subs Not Used: Ostenstad, Kelly.

Sent Off: Short (69).

Booked: Dunn.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Haas, Williams, Thome, Gray, McAteer, McCann, Reyna, Arca (Kilbane 77), Quinn (Kyle 67), Phillips.

Subs Not Used: Thirlwell, McCartney, Macho.

Booked: Thome, Kyle.

Goals: Quinn 17, 32, Kilbane 90.

Att: 29,869

Ref: C Wilkes (Gloucester).