'Head boy Quinn simply towers over rest' - Reid

But manager Peter Reid knows that the lacklustre form his team has shown so far this season will not unlock the door into a European utopia.

Reid had to thank the man he has spent £3.6m trying to replace for the match-winning goal and a late, inspirational goal-line clearance which denied Blackburn Rovers what would have a been a deserved point on their first visit to the Stadium of Light.

Quinn, 35 next month, demonstrated to all and sundry just how important he remains to the Sunderland cause.

Reid was well aware of his team's shortcomings, and knows that things will have to get much better if Sunderland hope to join the list of European entrants.

Against Blackburn - like previous opponents Ipswich, Fulham and Newcastle United - they were desperately short of teamwork and ideas, and their sheer reliance on effort alone cannot be expected to pay dividends on more accomplished opponents.

Reid admitted: "We are not at full tilt at the moment and we haven't played well.

"We were edgy and the crowd was edgy and at half-time I told the players to relax and try to pass it - perhaps we were trying too hard."

He added: "I don't think we have really played well this season, but we have got seven points.

"I can't wait until we start playing well - maybe we will start getting beat then!

"I don't think we are there yet but we will keep working at it."

The home crowd does not yet know what to make of Lilian Laslandes: at times he looks slow and clumsy on the ball and certainly he does not link up with England striker Kevin Phillips as well as Quinn.

The big Irishman, whose displays last season were hampered by a steadily worsening back injury, has benefited from rest in the summer, and Reid knows he still has plenty to offer.

Reid said: "I just wish Niall was ten years younger but unfortunately you can't beat time.

"But certainly he is still a fantastic asset to this club - I just think he spreads panic in opposing defences because of his physical presence and the intelligent positions he takes up.

"He gets in between people and you don't know where he is."

Quinn's influence is undeniable when he links up with Phillips, and defenders just can't seem to get to grips in the air with a player whose height, combined with his impeccable timing, is a constant threat.

The big Dubliner rose majestically in the 81st minute to meet and inch-perfect left-wing cross from Swedish international Stefan Schwarz to finally beat United States goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Friedel looked like keeping the Wearsiders at bay, having made two brilliant second half saves from Phillips and Schwarz, though he would have had no chance if a quickfire shot from Laslandes early in the first half had been on target.

Rovers had their moments, notably when striker Marcus Bent spurned a great heading chance from only six yards just before half-time. Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, playing with a broken nose, had made a couple of important saves.

But it looked as though he would be forced to concede his first home goal of the season in the 88th minute as Matt Jansen rounded him and struck a shot toward what appeared to be an unguarded net.

But Quinn appeared from nowhere to fling himself at the ball and head away - much to the relief - and delight - of the home fans in the 45,103 crowd. The clearance knocked the wind out of Blackburn's sails, and Sunderland could have sealed victory when Phillips broke away in the final minute to beat Friedel with a shot which came back off the foot of the post.

But Blackburn could argue that a one-goal victory flattered Sunderland - and few unbiased onlookers would disagree.

There were a couple of plusses for Sunderland - the performances of central defenders Jody Craddock and his 20-year-old partner George McCartney made it hard work for the Rovers strikers. Even the appearance, on the hour of Mark Hughes could not ruffle the feathers of the determined duo, who got through a lot of hard, efficient endeavour.

Read more about Sunderland AFC here.