Sunderland 1, Blackburn Rovers 2.

THROUGHOUT last week members of the Sunderland squad took time out to promote the Premier League's flagship good cause initiative - Creating Chances. But, after this frustrating defeat to Blackburn Rovers, Roy Keane could be forgiven for thinking the scheme had become Gifting Chances after a couple of lapses in concentration proved costly.

It would be wrong to point the finger purely at members of the Sunderland defence after slipping to their fourth defeat from eight league matches, two of which have been at home.

Blame could be aimed towards Danny Higginbotham for his part in Blackburn's crucial second goal, but the visitors were there for the taking in a largely uneventful first half.

With the exception of one stunningly fluent four-player move six minutes before the interval - which led to Liam Miller shooting straight at Brad Friedel - there was little threat imposed on the American goalkeeper's goal. And the shouts for a penalty shortly after, when Michael Chopra went down in the area after beating Friedel to a Miller through ball, were built on frustration rather than genuine belief.

It was not as if Blackburn were regularly creating opportunities at the other end. Their best effort arrived in the shape of an acrobatic volley from Matt Derbyshire that dropped wide.

But Rovers were more composed; with David Bentley, David Dunn, Tugay and Roque Santa Cruz more comfortable in possession.

And, given how Grant Leadbitter was the only other man to go close for the home team for the remainder of the game, it was Sunderland's profligacy that led to their downfall after the restart.

This was an indication that, despite plenty of endeavour and energy, Sunderland's largely inexperienced front two need to become more street-wise and effective if they are to enjoy better days against the division's better teams.

Keane concurred. "It's all about putting ball in back of net," said the Irishman, whose £11m strikeforce of Kenwyne Jones and Michael Chopra failed to test Friedel.

"We gave two bad goals away and you certainly can't do that in Premier League. We weren't able to claw our way back from that even though the players gave their all. It's small comfort for me after the game, but you've always got a chance with that in your dressing room."

Keane the player and Keane the manager are completely different eggs. Had he been the former, the once feared Manchester United captain would have torn shreds off his team-mates at full-time.

With the score goalless Sunderland's game-plan was blown completely into the Wearside air eight minutes after the break.

Roque Santa Cruz, a £3.8m bargain buy from Bayern Munich, was allowed to run towards the penalty area after picking up possession just inside the Sunderland half.

The Paraguay international's shot bounced off Higginbotham, then off Nyron Nosworthy and into the path of Bentley. With Gordon stranded, the former Arsenal youngster picked his spot to edge Blackburn ahead.

Worse was to come.

Higginbotham, despite the presence of Brett Emerton, had time to make sure his pass back to Gordon was assured.

Instead he failed to connect properly and Emerton darted in between the two Sunderland men and the Scotland goalkeeper was forced to make a save.

Emerton's quick thinking allowed him to head the rebound into the feet of Santa Cruz and the South American scored the easiest of his five goals in English football.

There were further gaps moments later. The two goalscorers cut Sunderland wide open with a terrific counter-attack which ended in Bentley rounding Higginbotham before being denied by the safe hands of Gordon.

Blackburn's ability to turn up the pace illustrated how they have remained in the top-flight for the last seven seasons, while Sunderland disappointed in front of another crowd in excess of 40,000.

It was long after Keane had thrown on all three of his substitutes that his team stepped things up. Even then, however, Friedel was only seriously threatened once.

"There is a desire to learn, but that can only come from games, playing Premiership teams," said Keane afterwards. "I can talk about it all day, but it only happens from the players playing in this division, getting to know each other, it's still a new team.

"I'm not going to make excuses, far from it, but that will take time. When you lose games, you hope that will speed up the process and we certainly have to learn fast."

With trips to leaders Arsenal and West Ham on the agenda before struggling Fulham arrive on Wearside, Sunderland need to react well. Otherwise they could be back in the bottom three sooner rather than later.