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Result: Sunderland 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

Sebastian Larsson scores a stoppage time free-kick to hand Martin O'Neill a winning start to life as Sunderland manager.

Sebastian Larsson scored a stoppage time free-kick to hand Martin O'Neill a winning start to his reign as manager of Sunderland.

Simon Vuckevic's headed effort looked to have handed Steve Kean's Blackburn Rovers all three points at the Stadium of Light, until Welsh international David Vaughan and Larsson intervened with late goals.

Sunderland started brightly but fell behind in the 17th minute. Christopher Samba's effort was parried away by Keiren Westwood in goal and Vuckevic was on hand to head in the rebound from close range.

Kieran Richardson had a good chance to level up proceedings just one minute later, but his effort from six yards out was held by Paul Robinson.

Blackburn thought they had doubled their lead when Scott Dann headed into an empty net, but the referee had blown for a foul on Westwood by Samba earlier in the move.

The home side continued to push for a equaliser after the break, with both Richardson and Larsson forcing Robinson into saves.

The leveller finally came six minutes from time courtesy of Vaughan, who struck a powerful effort past a flat-footed Robinson from 25 yards out.

Sunderland continued to attack their opponents and the pressure finally told in the first minute of time added-on. Larsson was the scorer, curling a direct free-kick beyond the reach of Robinson with the aid of the upright.

Larsson's strike has seen Sunderland move out of the relegation zone.

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Tables header RHS
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1Sunderland149322391430
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd149321871128
3Leeds UnitedLeeds147522291326
4Burnley146621761124
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom14572148622
6Millwall146441712522
7Watford147162222022
8Middlesbrough146351816221
9Swansea CitySwansea14545119219
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn145451616019
11Bristol City144731819-119
12Norwich CityNorwich144642320318
13Derby CountyDerby145361818018
14Stoke CityStoke145361718-118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds145361724-718
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd144551717017
17Coventry CityCoventry144371819-115
18Hull City143651518-315
19Luton TownLuton144371621-515
20Preston North EndPreston143651420-615
21Cardiff CityCardiff144371320-715
22Plymouth ArgylePlymouth144371425-1115
23Queens Park RangersQPR141761223-1110
24Portsmouth141671327-149


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