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Striker Jason Roberts spurned a gilt-edged chance two minutes into injury-time to deny Sam Allardyce his second win in two games as Blackburn manager.

Highlights

Roberts was through on goal with keeper Martin Fulop beaten, but somehow sidefooted his shot from 15 yards wide of the left-hand post.

Fulop had earlier palmed Morten Gamst Pedersen’s fine curling 20-yard free-kick on to his post after 52 minutes.

And the Hungarian denied Keith Andrews from 12 yards seven minutes later.

Although he will be disappointed to leave the Stadium of Light with a point, Allardyce can take satisfaction from a solid – if unspectacular – performance in only his second match at the helm.

Allardyce, who at one point had been favourite to succeed Roy Keane at the Stadium of Light, named an unchanged starting XI, although he was still without injured star striker Roque Santa Cruz, whose future at Ewood Park looks increasingly bleak after he admitted his desire join a more ambitious club.

Sunderland caretaker boss Ricky Sbragia also kept faith with his starting team that comprehensively beat Hull 4-1 last week.