Sam Allardyce felt it was a case of two points dropped rather than a point gained as Rovers could only draw against Sunderland.

Both sides went into the game off the back of high-scoring victories, but after a goalless encounter at the Stadium of Light, it was the Rovers boss who was left frustrated at the end.

After a first half in which the home side had the greater possession, Rovers certainly created the better chances in the second half.

But it was Jason Roberts' last-minute chance that will live long in the memory, the Rovers striker through on goal in injury time but somehow put his effort wide of the open goal.

"I thought it was in, I was up and ready to celebrate," said Allardyce after the game. "I can't believe it went wide and not in the back of the net. But that is life, we have to take it on the chin and look at the positives. We kept a clean sheet, we nullified Sunderland's attack, they had few opportunities, and then created better chances than them in the second half.

"We did have two opportunities that were very good saves from Sunderland's goalkeeper just five and ten minutes into the second half," said Allardyce after the game.

"Morten Gamst Pedersen hit a great free-kick that I thought was in all ends up but he's come from nowhere and tipped it onto the post.

"Keith Andrews is one on one, great move, timed his run brilliantly, but he's probably not hit his shot correctly and it was a good save from the 'keeper.

"So those two chances were certainly the best two chances from both sides that I can remember. So when the chance came, the golden chance I expected it to be a goal but unfortunately it wasn't so we are left bitterly disappointed we've only got one point instead of the three."