Quinn plays cameo role to perfection

Sunderland 1 Blackburn Rovers

Niall Quinn's disco pants are the subject of a famous Sunderland song but it was his priceless head that his side had to thank for an ultimately deserved victory yesterday. After coming on as substitute the 34-year-old Irishman first nodded the winner and then denied the visitors an equaliser, again with his head.

"The game could have gone either way," Peter Reid, Sunderland's manager, said after the match. "There were chances for both sides, the conditions weren't great for passing with the wind swirling at ground level. But then our big Irishman got his goal and saved one at the other end. He's still a fantastic asset for this football club."

The talk at the Stadium of Light before kick-off had been of other heroes, not least Thomas Sorensen, who started despite suffering a broken nose while being knocked unconscious when playing for Denmark last weekend. There were also increasingly positive whispers about George McCartney, a 20-year-old defender who scored for Northern Ireland in his country's 3­0 midweek win and of whom great things are expected. "He played a great game for us today," said Reid after the game, although he was not so magnanimous about a former hero, Don Hutchison, who departed to West Ham in the week.

"He put in a written transfer request and I think the deal was all about money from Don's point of view," wrote Reid in the match programme, dismissing claims that the player had been unhappy for other, personal, reasons.

The home side did not appear to miss Hutchison, with an industrious midfield driven by Alex Rae at its heart and the nimble Julio Arca on the left flank, creating several early chances. One fell to Lilian Laslandes, whose shot was headed clear by Stig Inge Bjornebye, showing awareness and a direct approach that exemplified the work of Rovers' back four. Martin Taylor, faced twice with an encroaching Kevin Phillips in search of a through ball, stepped up to thump the ball clear. Such resoluteness, if maintained, will be a vital factor for Graeme Souness's side this season.

"We worked hard," Souness said. "We created chances but were guilty in missing them. We need to start scoring or we'll keep going home with nothing."

Sunderland might well have expected to go into the lead several times soon after the break but Phillips, Arca and Laslandes all wasted opportunities. Brad Friedel then produced fine reaction saves in the 68th and 75th minutes to deny Phillips and Stefan Schwarz, but was helpless when the winner came. Schwarz crossed from the left and Quinn jumped to nod in at the far post. Minutes later he was back on his own line, denying Matt Jansen.

Sunderland 1 Blackburn Rovers 0

Quinn 81

Half-time: 0-0 Attendance: 45,103