“LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, Keano” the chorus from the visiting faithful reverberated around the stadium, to the tune of Hey Jude. Victory was Sunderland’s thanks to a remarkable second-half revival, which propelled them into the mid-table of this League of the Absurd and suddenly the Sunderland manager’s status as a cult hero and fixture at the Stadium of Light was reconfirmed.

Yet what a difference a day makes. On Friday morning Roy Keane had been the subject of feverish speculation on radio that he was about to be sacked, or, more likely, in an act more typical of this complex character, walk out. His team had suffered four successive defeats, and that, we must bear in mind, defines a crisis in northeast football terms, no matter the quality of Sunderland’s football this season. With Keane, not so long ago touted as a likely successor to Sir Alex Ferguson, still having failed to sign a contract extension, rumours were rife.

By yesterday afternoon the visitors’ coach duly arrived with Keane on board. By the end of an impassioned encounter in which Sunderland’s triumph was narrowly merited, Keane said: “It’s all rumours. And I don’t answer to them. I’d be here all night. It’s nonsense. I just took it that people were bored.” He was asked, wouldn’t there be less uncertainty about his tenure if he signed a new contract? “I don’t think my contract is anyone’s business other than for myself and Niall. And we’re the most relaxed people in the world about it.”

Even so, before the game it was natural to wonder what the effect would be of another setback. At the interval there appeared every possibility of that. Chris Samba had just scored with a header from Morten Gamst Pedersen’s corner in stoppage time. In truth, though, it was poor reward for a half of Rovers domination. Stephen Warnock missed an opening before Roque Santa Cruz headed against the bar. Then Pedersen blistered Marton Fulop’s hands with a venomous free kick. The goalkeeper also saved superbly from Keith Andrews’ free kick.

Whatever Keane said at the break — “I obviously said a few words”, he revealed — it transformed his men immeasurably. They proceeded to claim the spoils and left Paul Ince, his counterpart and friend from their Manchester United days, in inconsolable mood. “I’m upset, annoyed and angry,” said Ince. “We didn’t take our chances in the first half, and, in the second, we capitulated. It’s going to be a long, hard road.”

When your team is stuck in the cloying morass of the relegation places, with the wheels spinning like a non-offroader, you need prolific strikers to haul you out. Sunderland have one in Kenwyne Jones who, back from five months out with a knee ligament injury, offered the home rearguard little respite. He is already forging a fine partnership with Djibril Cisse, who scored Sunderland’s winner on 71 minutes.

“I hope they can both plug in to what we’re doing.” said Keane, who promised: “There’s a lot more to come from us, and from Djibril and Kenwyne.”

Sunderland, for whom Cisse missed their only first-half chance, certainly reappeared as though they may have received more than a cup of tea at half-time. Jones headed against the bar before, as things heated up, he indulged in a head-to-head argument with Zurab Khizanishvili. Both were cautioned.

Paul Robinson saved well from a Kieran Richardson free kick but was at fault when he failed to collect the same player’s corner. Jones reacted swiftly to tuck the ball home on 49 minutes, his first goal since April 5 against Fulham. Worse followed for Rovers. Steed Malbranque’s header allowed Cisse to brush aside Khizanishvili and he then beat Robinson with a deft touch.

Rovers could have equalised but Aaron Mokoena’s effort was deflected after a goalmouth scramble. It left the Sunderland supporters to laud their men, and one in particular. There is, indeed, “Only one Keano”.

Star man: Kenwyne Jones (Sunderland)

Yellow cards: Blackburn: Warnock, Khizanishvili, Mokoena Sunderland: Ferdinand, Collins, Tainio, Jones

Referee: S Tanner

Attendance: 21,798

BLACKBURN: Robinson 6, Ooijer 6, Samba 7, Khizanishvili 6, Warnock 7, Simpson 6, Andrews 7 (Villanueva 61min), Mokoena 6, Pedersen 7 (Tugay 76min), Santa Cruz 7, Roberts 6 (Derbyshire 61min)

SUNDERLAND: Fulop 6, Bardsley 6, Ferdinand 7, Nosworthy 6, Collins 6, Tainio 6 (Reid 53min, 7), Whitehead 6, Richardson 7, Malbranque 7 (Leadbitter 83min), Cisse 7 (Yorke 83min), Jones 8