Striker Kenwyne Jones scored twice as Sunderland came from a goal down to beat Blackburn in a hard-fought game.
Jason Roberts had a header disallowed for Blackburn before Gael Givet drove in an 18-yard shot to put Rovers ahead.
But Jones rounded keeper Paul Robinson and slotted in and then powered in a header to put Sunderland in front.
Benni McCarthy should have equalised with a close range header but his effort hit the crossbar, while Nikola Kalinic put a late shot horribly wide.
Rovers will feel they deserved more from a determined performance and they will also feel hard done by because of some refereeing decisions, especially against Roberts and Steven Nzonzi.
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Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce will be frustrated at a second successive defeat but he can find encouragement in his side's battling qualities.
Allardyce's sides are always well drilled when it comes to set pieces and the visitors caused havoc in the Sunderland area with their aerial threat.
Black Cats keeper Marton Fulop and his defence were unconvincing in dealing with the bombardment of corners, free-kicks and long throws being launched into the home side's box.
Fulop was given a let off when the referee generously awarded a foul against him after he had missed a corner from El-Hadji Diouf and Roberts had nodded the ball in after it bounced back off the post.
Bruce delighted Sunderland 'dug in'
That effort might have been disallowed but the creaking Sunderland backline finally snapped under the pressure when a swinging Morten Gamst Pedersen corner was only cleared to Givet, who drove in a low shot to put Blackburn ahead.
Allardyce had stressed the importance of his side getting of the mark points wise and his side had clearly taken his words on board as their desire was vastly superior to Sunderland's.
The home side looked to be feeling the effects of having played on Tuesday in a defeat by Chelsea before they were given a way back into the game through a lapse in Blackburn's concentration.
Centre-back Christopher Samba failed to intercept Steed Malbranque's through ball and Jones capitalised by running on to the pass, rounding the on-rushing Robinson and coolly slotting in.
We've got to be more ruthless - Allardyce
The goal provided fresh impetus to Sunderland, although they were given a scare when Fulop failed to catch a Diouf cross at the far post and debutant Zalinic stabbed the loose ball high from close range.
The miss proved crucial as Sunderland went up the other end and showed the ruthlessness Blackburn lacked as Jones headed in Lee Cattermole's cross.
Blackburn were not helped by captain Ryan Nelsen and striker Franco Di Santo having to go off injured during the game.
The away camp were also unhappy when they were denied an equaliser after Nzonzi looped in a header only for Samba to be penalised for offside as he was deemed to be interfering with play.
Kalinic's shot wide late on summed up Rovers' problems as they were shown the importance of having a striker of Jones's calibre.
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce:
"We struggled in the first half after putting in a big 60 minutes against Chelsea.
"We could not cope with Blackburn's physical threat in the first 45 minutes and we could not deal with them.
"It has been a gruelling week for us and Blackburn were fresh for this match.
"I am pleased we have dug in and got the win because we got off the hook a bit."
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce:
"I'm really quite sick as our performances are not achieving the results we perhaps deserve.
"We have to be more ruthless in front of goal and have to concentrate for 90 minutes, particularly defensively.
"We feel a bit hard done by on the goals disallowed, certainly the first one. If that's an infringement, then there would be 20 free-kicks and penalties given in every game."
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