THEY so often win in style but don’t be fooled into thinking Sunderland don’t have a steely side.

The Black Cats might well possess some of the best attacking talents in the division, players who’ll give Championship defenders sleepless nights, but their excellent win at Blackburn on Wednesday night was as much thanks to defensive courage as it was attacking craft.

Yes, they rode their luck at times in a chaotic and breathless game on their way to a fine 3-1 victory, their third successive win that lifted the Black Cats to fourth in the Championship table, but this success was down to colossal defending and clinical finishing.

In defence, Dan Ballard was simply immense. Blackburn had 22 shots but the only time they managed to hit the net was when Ballard was off the pitch receiving treatment. Having laid siege on the Sunderland goal in the first 20 minutes, Rovers will wonder how they were left empty handed. But Sunderland weathered the storm, kept their cool and took their chances. Jack Clarke put them in front from the spot and although Harry Leonard equalised 10 minutes before the break, Dan Neil struck on the stroke of half-time. Clarke wrapped up the victory 12 minutes from time.

It might well be early days but Sunderland look every inch promotion contenders again.

That Mowbray’s side were somehow still level after quarter of an hour at Ewood Park was thanks to the brilliance of Ballard, who made two goal-saving blocks in the early stages. Blackburn were blistering early on, threatening every time they advanced and looking particularly dangerous down the right.

But chances came and went. Leonard’s volley was just too high and landed on the roof of the net before Ballard somehow managed to deflect Andrew Moran’s close-range tap-in over the bar when it appeared the striker couldn’t miss. No wonder Ballard celebrated in front of the Sunderland fans as though he’d scored a goal. He was at it again just two minutes later, this time diverting a Sammy Szmodics’ effort narrowly over.

It was against the run of play that Sunderland got themselves in front just before the half hour mark. After Clarke was fouled by Ryan Hedges inside the box, the winger picked himself up and made no mistake from the spot.

Having dominated upto that point, Blackburn could have felt sorry for themselves but instead continued to pepper the Sunderland goal. Bellingham denied the hosts an immediate equaliser with a brilliant block.

The goal Blackburn had threatened since kick-off finally arrived 10 minutes before the break. Mowbray was furious, adamant that Leonard was offside when he headed home at the back post. Although replays showed that wasn’t the case, Sunderland had a right to feel aggrieved, for they were down to 10 men at the time with Ballard having required treatment after a collision with home keeper Aynsley Pears.

Mowbray was booked for his protests but his frustrations were eased in first half stoppage time. A breathless opening period finished with the Black Cats back in front. A corner from the left was only cleared as far as Neil on the edge, who lashed a left-footed strike beyond Pears and into the far corner.

If Blackburn were demoralised to be trailing at the break after such an impressive first half display then it didn’t show early in the second half, for they immediately set about adding to their 11 first half efforts on Patterson’s goal. Ballard made yet another brilliant block in the box before Patterson made a fine save at full stretch to deny Travis.

With the home side pushing for an equaliser, Sunderland were always going to get opportunities on the counter. Clarke burst through the middle and teed up Burstow in the box but the Chelsea loanee’s strike was tame and straight at Pears.

Blackburn grew frustrated and ran out of ideas and Sunderland wrapped up the points when Hayden Carter was dispossessed in his own box before Clarke coolly rounded Pears and stroked home.