Blackburn Rovers were punished for their wastefulness in front of goal as they rued missed chances in a 3-1 defeat to Sunderland.

Harry Leonard's second goal of the season was bookmarked by strikes from Jack Clarke (2) and Dan Neil. Despite creating a host of wonderful chances, Jon Dahl Tomasson's side somehow came away from Ewood Park with nothing to show for their efforts.

Chances went begging in the opening 25 minutes with Leonard, Sam Szmodics and Andy Moran somehow kept out by a combination of woodwork, goalkeeping and last-ditch defending.

Rovers were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal as Clarke stole in front of Ryan Hedges, who brought down the Sunderland attacker as he attempted to clear. The former Spurs and Leeds winger got back up to fire in the opener against the run of play.

That didn't deter Rovers' attacking style though and they finally got their just-rewards. Harry Leonard couldn't miss from six yards as he netted his second of the season, nodding in Callum Brittain's lovely cross.

More chances came and went with the Black Cats again making Rovers pay. In first-half stoppage time, a loose clearance was pounced on by Dan Neil, who strode forward and fired a crisp strike past Aynsley Pears and into the bottom corner.

Rovers continued to push for a leveller but found more resistance in the second half. Substitute Dilan Markanday came closest with a low shot which struck the base of the post.

But Sunderland's gameplan worked a treat and they got the chance they hoped for and wrapped up the game. Hayden Carter was caught on the ball and Clarke punished him, scoring from close range to wrap up the game.

The backdrop promised plenty of excitement in a game filled with narrative. Ok, sure, neither Bradley Dack nor Corry Evans were fit to take their place in the Sunderland XI but Tony Mowbray's second return to Ewood Park was enough to whet the appetite.

On the pitch, it was a match-up of two very young, very attacking group of players. The Black Cats defied all odds to reach the Championship top-six last season and went even younger with their summer shopping. Like Rovers, they've gone for the youth approach with their squad building.

Sunderland had shown their 5-0 drubbing of Southampton wasn't a flash in the pan, coming from behind to beat ten-man Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. Their blend of youthful exuberance and attacking flair looked set to tee up a mouthwatering clash.

The big question for Tomason was in his team selection. With Sam Gallagher sidelined for six weeks, it was Harry Leonard who got the nod ahead of Semir Telalovic. Tyrhys Dolan made way for Andrew Moran in the other, unsprung, alteration. Youngster James Edmondson was rewarded with a place on the bench with Arnor Sigurdsson and Sondre Tronstad involved with the Under-21s against Hertha Berlin in the Premier League International Cup.

Any fears that the game would not live up to the billing were quashed early on in a breathtaking start. In a familiar story, Rovers should've been several goals ahead by 25 minutes.

The early signs were good with Rovers again on the front foot, pressing high and asserting themselves on the opposition. Leonard almost repaid Tomasson's faith with a great volley from a tight angle but it clipped the bar and went over.

That was the theme of the night. Rovers' free-flowing football was too much for Sunderland, as they cut them open at will. The ball wouldn't go in the net, though.

If they managed to get past Anthony Patterson, the Sunderland's defence intervened. Sam Szmodics was initially denied, Hedges' goal-bound strike was blocked and Dan Ballard somehow managed to lift Moran's close-range shot over the bar.

The Sunderland defence was against performing heroics as he took the ball off Leonard's toe and Szmodics' shot was deflected over. Deja Vu, all over again.

Unlike against Middlesbrough, Sunderland had the firepower to punish Rovers. Their first came from the penalty spot, with Clarke nipping ahead of Hedges, who tried to clear, and earning himself a chance to score from 12 yards.

The Black Cats had done very little to deserve their lead but it didn't last long. Rovers streaked forward and Brittain's deep cross found the head of Leonard, who couldn't miss from inside the six-yard box as he headed in his second of the season.

Rovers continued to pour men forward but again, Sunderland showed their clinical edge to retake the lead. In first-half stoppage time, a routine corner was half-cleared and pounced on by Neil, who drove the ball low into the bottom corner for 2-1. Somehow, Blackburn were behind at the break.

Tomasson's message at the break must have been something along the lines of 'more of the same, lads' because that's exactly what Rovers served up. Sunderland were intent on sitting back and inviting pressure, confident in their ability to cause havoc on the counter-attack.

What followed was a barrage of pressure, a siege on the Sunderland goal. Travis and Moran were denied by good reflexes from Patterson, with the Brighton & Hove Albion loanee also blasting over.

Tomasson rolled the dice to try and find a breakthrough. On came Tyrhys Dolan, Markanday and Joe Rankin-Costello to try and change the course of the match. Frustration began to creep in as the chance dried up, though not for a lack of effort.

Markanday set about trying to change that and came the closest of any Rovers player in the second half. He quickly chopped the ball onto his left foot and hit a low drive which clipped the base of the post and went to safety.

Sunderland had sat back soaked up the pressure in the second half and eventually got their chance to end the contest. Rovers were caught playing out from the back and that left them three against one, with Clarke scoring from close range to end the match.

It was another harsh lesson for this young Rovers side. Unlike against Middlesbrough, Sunderland had the quality to punish them. 80 per cent of their play is worthy of a top-six side but a lack of ruthlessness in both boxes will prove costly.