Rovers tumble to penalties

Souness has experienced just about everything the game has to offer during a glorious career which has taken in spells at some of the biggest clubs in the world.

But in all his days as both a player and manager the former Liverpool legend had never before found himself on the losing side in a shoot-out until Gavin McCann tucked away the vital spot-kick which earned the Black Cats a fifth round home tie against First Division Watford.

It was a dramatic end to a gripping cup tie which had contained more twists than your average episode of 'Footballer's Wives.'

But the fact that Rovers played their part in one of the most captivating clashes of the season was of scant consolation to Souness who found out for the first time just how gut-wrenching losing a shoot-out can be.

Twice Rovers had battled back from the dead thanks to the never-say-die attitude of skipper Garry Flitcroft, who weighed in with two vital equalisers which threatened to shatter Sunderland's indomitable spirit.

But as the game then went to the lottery of penalties, it was the visitors who finally lost their nerve as David Thompson, Andy Cole and Ciccio Grabbi all failed to beat Black Cats hero Thomas Sorensen from 12 yards.

It was a cruel manner in which to lose after such a stirring fightback but Rovers ultimately paid the penalty for failing to finish the job off at Ewood 10 days previously when they had had the chance.

"That's the very first shoot-out I've lost, either as a player or a manager," said a dejected Souness.

"In the past I've won competitions on shoot-outs but now I know what it's like to lose one.

"At the end of the day, though, we paid the price for not winning the original tie at Ewood a fortnight ago."

These are difficult times to be a Blackburn fan.

In the last fortnight or so Rovers have crashed out of the Worthington Cup, suffered damaging Premiership defeats at the hands of West Ham and Aston Villa, and now the league's bottom club have dumped them out of the FA Cup as well, just to compound their misery.

At least they went down fighting here after Flitcroft twice conjured up second half equalisers, even if the quality of the overall team performance left a lot to be desired at times, particularly in the first half.

With Damien Duff and David Dunn still missing through injury, Rovers lacked the creative spark necessary to get the best out of Cole and Dwight Yorke up front. And it was only in the second half when Souness changed both the formation and personnel that the visitors really began to ask any serious questions of the beleaguered Black Cats.

As at Villa on Sunday, Rovers made the worst possible start, shipping another soft goal inside the opening 10 minutes.

Sean Thornton, a recent loan target for Burnley boss Stan Ternent, slipped a clever ball through a Rovers defence which was trying to push up and Kevin Phillips had all the time in the world to compose himself before slotting a cool finish inside Brad Friedel's right-hand post.

Things could have got worse for the visitors 10 minutes later when a twisting run from Michael Proctor unlocked their defence once again but this time an offside flag saved the day as Phillips again found the net with typical precision.

Despite that set-back, confidence was clearly starting to course through Sunderland's veins and they should have extended their lead in the 29th minute.

Stephen Wright's cross was cleverly dummied by Phillips for Julio Arca at the back post but the Argentinian steered his shot wide of the far upright.

By now, Souness was prowling up and down the technical area like a caged tiger as he became increasingly agitated by his team's ineptitude.

In a rare moment of respite, Cole briefly threatened to restore parity when he seized onto a Jay McEveley pass only to shoot tamely at Sorensen.

Still Sunderland poured forward, however, and the combative McCann came within a whisker of a second with a thunderous drive which flew inches over.

Souness decided action was needed and brought on Jonathan Douglas in place of McEveley at half-time but the tie could have been over as contest before the young Irishman had time to work up a bead of sweat.

Martin Taylor was caught in possession by McCann in the centre circle and Phillips raced onto the resulting through ball but his curling shot came back off the far post and Proctor, who put through his own net twice at the weekend, somehow failed to make contact with the rebound.

That proved to be a major turning point as Rovers hit back with a goal of their own within 30 seconds.

Thompson whipped over a free kick from the right and Flitcroft rose to power a downward header beyond the despairing Sorensen.

From then on it became a test of nerve and character.

Friedel saved from Phillips then Douglas volleyed over after great work from Nissa Johansson.

But there was nothing Friedel could do about Sunderland's second in the 78th minute as McCann unleashed a ferocious 20 yard volley which exploded into the top corner.

Surely Rovers couldn't stage yet another comeback like the one in the original tie -- but they did.

Their chance appeared to have gone when Berg headed wide with the goal at his mercy but then in the 90th minute Thompson crossed to the far post where Flitcroft arrived to slam home a dramatic equaliser.

So to extra time and a further half hour failed to separate the two teams which meant the lottery of penalties.

Phillips put the pressure on by slotting away the first then Thompson missed for Rovers before Sorensen took centre stage with saves from Cole and Grabbi to see Sunderland through.

Now the question is where does Rovers' season go from here?

With a dozen or so games left to play in the league, the season could easily tail off between now and May.

However, as long as there's an outside chance of Europe, then Rovers must chase the dream, starting against Southampton on Saturday.

SUNDERLAND 2

Phillips 10, McCann 78

ROVERS 2

Flitcroft 49, 90

AET (Sunderland win 3-0 penalties)