Sunderland dropped back into the relegation zone after losing 1-0 to Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Benni McCarthy scored his first goal since October from the penalty spot just before the hour mark, just moments after Sunderland captain Grant Leadbitter had missed a spot-kick of his own.

The misery for Roy Keane's side was completed when Dwight Yorke was sent off for two bookable offences.

The visitors had the opportunity to take a deserved lead early in the second half when Christopher Samba bundled over Daryl Murphy in the Blackburn area, and referee Rob Styles had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

In the absence of top scorer Kenwyne Jones, who was substituted at half time after picking up a knock to his knee, Leadbitter stepped up but his low strike was an easy save for Brad Friedel.

Their bad luck continued minutes later when McCarthy's half-volley struck Danny Higginbotham's arm at close range and Styles gave another spot-kick.

McCarthy, who until then had looked out of sorts in this match, blasted his shot past Craig Gordon to end his barren run without a goal in ten games.

On a blustery night in Lancashire it was Sunderland who started the brighter of the two sides, although they failed to take full advantage of Blackburn's lethargic start to the match.

The returning Kieran Richardson was linking up with Danny Collins and Daryl Murphy to good effect, but the most their slick build-up play could produce was an inviting cross for Jones that the target man just couldn't reach under pressure from Ryan Nelsen.

Jones lead the line well and helped ensure that the Blackburn players were not given any time on the ball to get into the game, but his only reward was a handful of other half chances, including a miscued strike after Friedel was indecisive in coming off his line and a turn and shot from the edge of the area that the American goalkeeper caught comfortably with a dive to his left.

Despite the removal of both sides' top scorers (Santa Cruz was also replaced at half time by Matt Derbyshire), the tempo of the match picked up after the restart, and the match was decided in the frantic five minute spell early in the second half that produced the two penalties.

On 70 minutes, Yorke picked up a second yellow card for a foul on substitute David Dunn to go with his earlier booking for bringing down Derbyshire to receive a red card on his return to his old club.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport