Sunderland and Blackburn must incorporate an FA Cup fourth-round replay into their battle for Premier League survival after a scrappy encounter ended goalless at the Stadium of Light.

Morten Gamst Pedersen went closest to ending a stalemate which did little to justify the fixture's status as an all top-flight affair, but saw his goalbound effort cleared off the line by Pascal Chimbonda.

Sunderland had nothing as clear-cut as that but Chimbonda himself could have won it with two minutes to play when he dragged his shot wide of the post from an inviting position.

Blackburn selected a full-strength side, with sought after striker Roque Santa Cruz making a first start in six weeks, but Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia opted to start with Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse among the substitutes.

Blackburn nearly got off to a perfect start when centre-half Chris Samba rose highest to get on the end of a second-minute corner.

Goalkeeper Martin Fulop, continuing to deputise for the injured Craig Gordon, was surely beaten but Samba's header flew wide of the near post.

At the other end, home captain Grant Leadbitter was struggling to find his range, twice drilling low drives into defenders when well placed.

With 20 minutes gone Michael Chopra hit a speculative effort from range and when Paul Robinson could only parry it following a skiddy bounce, David Healy forced him into a smart follow-up save from a tight angle.

Rovers had offered little for some time when they surprised their opponents by carving out a one on one for Santa Cruz in the 26th minute.

The Paraguayan showed quick feet to get his shot away but Fulop was alert, spreading himself well to make the save.

That in turn spurred on Sunderland, who had an enthusiastic but unsuccessful penalty appeal turned down a minute later.

There was, though, a distinct lack of quality on show, with Leadbitter and Andy Reid both wasteful in possession and the visitors painfully short of ideas in the final third.

Santa Cruz was one of the chief culprits, first heading a deep cross back into no-man's land and then slicing a left-sided cross high into the stands as half-time approached.

Then, with seconds of the half remaining, Rovers almost broke the deadlock.

Santa Cruz collected a loose ball in the box and was able to find Gamst Pedersen in space.

The winger took a deft touch to line up his shot before releasing a powerful strike at goal.

Fulop was nowhere but Chimbonda reacted quickly on the line, sliding to divert the ball away from goal.

Danny Simpson, anonymous but largely untested on the right of Rovers' defence, attempted to take matters into his own hands, careering down the wing and firing in a curling cross.

Although it proved a shade too deep for Santa Cruz at the far post, Simpson at least showed some much-needed energy.

Substitute Andrew Haworth, on for the ineffective Martin Olsson in the 56th minute, gave Rovers another injection of pace and fought doggedly to win possession by the right corner flag.

He proceeded to find Gamst Pedersen at the far post, but the Norwegian's volley lacked precision and bounced over the crossbar.

With 65 minutes on the clock Healy netted after a fine Steed Malbranque run, only for an offside flag to be raised.

Both sides sent on attackers in an attempt to steal the game in the last 25 minutes, Jones on for Healy and Carlos Villanueva replacing the labouring Santa Cruz.

Villanueva was the man responsible for sending Blackburn through in the previous round against non-league Blyth Spartans, but it was Jones who had an immediate impact.

He cut the ball back inside the six-yard box for Malbranque, giving the Frenchman a clear sight of goal but the resulting effort was wild and inaccurate.

Gael Givet was handed a Rovers debut as Sam Allardyce continued to look to the bench for inspiration but the game became increasingly fractured.

Gamst Pedersen enjoyed a lucky bounce with 10 minutes to go but as he waited for the ball to drop, Chimbonda raced into position to block the shot.

The former Tottenham defender was again at the centre of the action after 88 minutes, holding his head after threading a low shot just wide 18 yards from goal.

Teams:

Sunderland Fulop, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins,Bardsley (McCartney 65), Edwards, Leadbitter, Malbranque, Reid,Healy (Jones 67), Chopra.

Subs Not Used: Colgan, Cisse, Diouf, Murphy, Yorke.

Blackburn Robinson, Simpson, Samba, Nelsen,Warnock (Givet 73), Olsson (Haworth 56), Mokoena, Grella,Pedersen, Roque Santa Cruz (Villanueva 67), McCarthy.

Subs Not Used: Bunn, Emerton, Khizanishvili, Andrews.

Booked: Olsson, Mokoena, Samba.

Att: 22,634

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).