Sunderland moved into the playoff positions in the Championship after securing all three points against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Wednesday night. 

Tony Mowbray's side travelled to Lancashire full of confidence after successive wins against Sunderland and QPR and made it three wins on the trot thanks to a Jack Clarke brace and one from Dan Neil. 

The Black Cats made one change from last weekend's win, as Alex Pritchard replaced the injured Pierre Ekwah in the middle of the park. 

Blackburn carved out the first big opportunity of the evening when the dangerous Sammie Szmodics beat Luke O'Nien in the area but fired his shot straight at Anthony Patterson, with teenager Andrew Moran inexplicably firing the rebound over the crossbar.

Sunderland made them pay for that miss not long after as Clarke was felled in the box by Ryan Hedges, and the winger picked himself up to open the scoring from the penalty spot on 28 minutes. 

However, the hosts were level just seven minutes later, as Harry Leonard was left unmarked at the back post to head in from Callum Brittain's cross. 

In first-half added time, Mowbray's side would regain their lead, as Neil showed great composure when the ball fell to him on the edge of the area, and he beat his man before finding the corner with a left-footed drive.

Blackburn knocked on the door several times in the second half but couldn't find a way past Patterson, and Clarke made the points safe with 78 minutes on the clock. 

The winger collected Pritchard's pass before dancing past two defenders and leaving the goalkeeper on the floor, tapping in for his fifth goal of the campaign. 

A happy return to Ewood Park for Mowbray, who sees his side move up to fourth in the league.