A match that, for sapping periods, drained the imagination and stretched the patience of supporters ignited in the second half, but Sunderland will not be basking in a warm glow of satisfaction this morning. They have now lost four consecutive games and are grappling for self-belief.

Blackburn Rovers will take their place in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup, a reward their limited performance barely merited. Until the introduction from the substitutes’ bench of Roque Santa Cruz — who immediately opened the scoring — they had been marginal players in a disappointing contest and Sunderland will reflect that victory was there to be grasped.

Yet converting chances is proving difficult for Roy Keane’s team and while the manager’s unexpected decision to field Kenwyne Jones was successful, the Trinidad & Tobago international’s goal proved to be mere consolation. On this occasion, there was no late excitement to compensate for Phil Bardsley’s own goal. A new test for Keane’s talents is beckoning.

This is the second time that Sunderland have endured a quartet of successive defeats under Keane’s leadership. “Groundhog Day,” the Irishman said. “It’s the same scenario, the same result, we’re on the losing end. We have to sort it out. We have to score more goals and concede less, obviously.”

Sunderland, who are second bottom of the table, have the opportunity of an immediate rematch at Ewood Park on Saturday, but Blackburn will be stronger; Paul Ince made seven changes to his side last night. “Worried? I suppose I am, worried and disappointed that the players deserve better,” Keane said. “Not worried about me, but worried about losing football matches. A lot of people will be writing us off now.”

The opening period, in which Jones struck the crossbar, was dreadful, but Santa Cruz’s arrival in the 63rd minute, improved matters. The Paraguay striker was on hand to nod home decisively after a cross by Martin Olsson had been headed on by Chris Samba in the 65th minute. Five minutes later, Bardsley, stretching to meet a low centre by Matt Derbyshire, stubbed the ball into his own net.

Sunderland responded swiftly. From outside the area, Jones — who Keane had stated would not start amid concerns that he had exacerbated a knee injury — converted his first goal of a truncated season with his left foot, but time was against them. “When I saw Keane’s team, I thought he’d slipped me a googly,” Ince said. “It scared the life out of me, but I’m delighted with the players and it’s lovely to be in the quarter-finals.”