IT WAS a tale of two penalties at Ewood Park last night as Rovers made it back-to-back wins.

Brad Friedel came to Blackburn's rescue for the second game in succession as he saved Dean Whitehead's spot-kick after Chris Samba had fouled Daryl Murphy five minutes after the re-start.

And five minutes later, Benni McCarthy got 2008 off to the best possible start as he scored from the spot following a handball by Danny Higginbotham - his first goal in 10 games.

It didn't get much better for the visitors as former Rovers striker Dwight Yorke was sent off 20 minutes from the end for a second bookable offence.

Aaron Mokoena and Brett Emerton both went close for Rovers but they did enough to take the points.

The first half was tame in comparison with David Bentley coming closest for Rovers and Kenwynne Jones carrying Sunderland's main threat.

But it wasn't all good news for Mark Hughes as Roque Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire both picked up knocks in the game.