REPUBLIC of Ireland international Niall Quinn earned Sunderland the points in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers with a priceless 81st minute header.

It looked as though Rovers woould glean a point from their first ever visit to the Stadium of Light but substitute Quinn rose to a left wing centre from Swedish international Stefan Schwarz to break the deadlock - and then saved the day two minutes from time when he cleared a shot from strike Matt Jansen off the rline.

Earlier United States keeper Brad Friedel had kept Sunderland at bay with two magnificent second half saves.

Friedel, once a transfer target for Sunderland prevented England striker breaking the deadlock in the 69th minute when he turned a vicious left foot shot pound the post and six minutes later denied Schwarz.

Rovers finished the first half the stronger side and would have gone in ahead if striker Marcus Bent had put away a simple header from six yards.

But Sunderland were better after the break and £3.6m French international Lilian Laslandes missed a great chance in the 55th minyte before Argentinian winger Julio Arca fired over an unguarded goal.

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