Rovers and Sunderland will meet for an unprecedented fifth time this season, after the two sides played out a second successive goalless draw at the Stadium of Light.

Sam Allardyce's side had sufficient chances to win this FA Cup fourth round tie, but the two teams will be forced to do battle once again at Ewood Park in 10 days time.

Roque Santa Cruz and Morten Gamst Pedersen went closest for the visitors in the first half, whilst Paul Robinson was forced to make a double save from David Healy, who later had a goal disallowed.

Pascal Chimbonda almost snatched it for Sunderland two minutes from time, but the goal would have been cruel on Rovers after Vince Grella was injured in the build-up following a poor tackle from Andy Reid.

That's now six games unbeaten under Big Sam - and five clean sheets to boot.

Before the game, Rovers made five changes to the side that comfortably defeated Sunderland's local rivals Newcastle last weekend.

In the absence of Jason Roberts, Santa Cruz was handed his first start under Sam Allardyce, partnering Benni McCarthy in attack.

Meanwhile, Grella, Aaron Mokoena, Danny Simpson and Martin Olsson all returned to the starting line-up, in place of Tugay, Keith Andrews, Andre Ooijer and Brett Emerton.

Despite the reshuffle, Rovers started the game the better of the two sides. On two minutes, Chris Samba headed Pedersen's corner just inches wide at the near post and four minutes later, following a sustained spell of pinball inside the box, Grella failed to hit the target with a crisp half-volley.

Sunderland responded well, with captain Grant Leadbitter having two shots blocked from outside the area within a minute, before seeing a third long-range strike comfortably saved by Robinson moments later.

The Rovers keeper was then forced to make a double save on the 20-minute mark, parrying Healy's initial effort and then smothering the former Fulham forward's shot on the follow-up.

Rovers' best chance of the half arrived on 26 minutes, when McCarthy slipped the ball through to Santa Cruz, who escaped the clutches of Chimbonda, but his weak shot was well kept out by Marton Fulop.

Two minutes later, Sunderland had strong appeals for a penalty waved away when Leadbitter went down inside the box under a challenge from the imperious Ryan Nelsen, but referee Lee Probert remained unmoved.

The final chance of the half again fell to Rovers, who were unfortunate not to take the lead, After neat interplay between McCarthy and Santa Cruz, the ball was played wide to Pedersen, who teed himself up for a fierce volley, which beat the keeper, but not the perfectly placed Chimbonda on the line.

Allardyce made the first tactical switch of the second half, bringing on Andy Haworth for Olsson after 57 minutes, and it almost paid immediate reward. With an hour of the game gone, the young winger did well down the right, creating space for Simpson to swing over a cross to the far post, but Pedersen's downward volley was off the mark.

Moments later, Healy had the ball in the back of the net after a good run by Steed Malbranque, but the Irishman had just crept offside.

Both sides rang the changes, with Carlos Villanueva dragging a left-foot shot well wide just minutes after coming on for Santa Cruz, whilst straight up the other end, substitute Kenwyne Jones teed up Malbranque, who ballooned his effort over the bar.

Allardyce made his final change, handing a debut to new signing Gael Givet in place of Stephen Warnock at left-back, as Rovers pushed bodies forward in search of the win.

On 74 minutes, a one-two between Rovers' South African duo ended with Mokoena firing a left-foot shot straight at Fulop and six minutes later, Pedersen again had a goal-bound volley blocked, after a neat interchange with Villanueva. 

Sunderland almost won it in the 88th minute, after a passage of play which had the Rovers boss incensed. After a studs-up challenge by Reid on Grella, which ended the Australian's involvement in the game, Carlos Edwards pulled the ball back to Chimbonda, who stroked his shot just inches wide of the post.

Rovers' 10 men were able to see out the four additional minutes with ease, to earn a fourth round replay back at Ewood Park on Wednesday February 4th.

SUNDERLAND: Fulop, Bardsley (McCartney 65), Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, Edwards, Leadbitter, Reid, Malbranque, Chopra, Healy (Jones 68).
Subs not used: Colgan, Yorke, Murphy, Diouf, Cisse.

ROVERS: Robinson, Simpson, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock (Givet 73), Pedersen, Mokoena, Grella, Olsson (Haworth 57), McCarthy, Santa Cruz (Villanueva 67).
Subs not used: Bunn, Khizanishvili, Emerton, Andrews.

Booked: Olsson, Mokoena, Samba (Rovers)

Attendance: 22,634