Blackburn Rovers have qualified for the Premier League 2 end-of-season play-offs despite a 4-0 defeat to Sunderland.

Mike Sheron's side were resoundingly beaten on the last day of the campaign but still secured a top-16 finish.

The Premier League announced changes to their format last summer, moving from a two-league format to a 26-teamed division.

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The top 16 teams will then play each other in a knockout format, with first place facing against 16th and so on. The highest-seeded team will be at home.

Rovers' defeat to Sunderland means they ended the campaign 15th. Sheron's men will therefore take on West Ham United away from home in the first knockout round.

It was a disappointing end to the regular campaign, with the Black Cats winning 4-0 at Leyland. Ellis Taylor scored just before the half-time whistle to put Sunderland ahead.

Harrison Jones then immediately doubled that advantage after the restart, converting from close range to put the visitors in control.

Taylor then doubled his tally for the afternoon, firing in after a corner before Oliver Bainbridge added a fourth with just over 25 minutes left to play.

Blackburn Rovers: Michalski; Duru, Gamble, Whitehall (Doherty 46), Atcheson, Batty (Powell 71); Caddick, Finneran, Wood, Fyles (Stritch 71), Nsangou (Trialist 46).