BLACKBURN Rovers showed plenty of resilience to pick up a point at home to Sunderland after being reduced to 10 men before half-time in their Premier League clash.

Chris Samba was sent off just moments before the interval as Rovers struggled to find any real form against the Black Cats at Ewood Park in the teeming rain.

The giant Rovers defender was shown the red card when adjudged to have fouled Danny Welbeck on the edge of the penalty box as the Sunderland striker ran through on goal.

Despite their one-man advantage, the visitors could not find a way past a superb Paul Robinson.

Rovers were given a huge let-off in the 25th minute when Gael Givet failed to clear a long ball and Darren Bent, one-on-one with Robinson, fired his shot straight at the goalkeeper.

At the other end, Nikola Kalinic headed wide El-Hadji Diouf's right-wing cross, but Blackburn chances were few and far between in the first-half.

David Dunn came on as a second-half substitute to try and give Rovers impetus in an attacking sense.

But, with a man down, Rovers were largely on the back foot.

Bent headed wide Ahmed Elmohamady's cross, while Robinson pulled off a terrific diving stop from Asamoah Gyan late on.

Click on the link below for the verdict from our sister paper the Northern Echo.