2218: Quick scan of the texts and 606 tells me you're all a bit glum after that non-spectacle. Unless my maths is hideous, there's 760 games in the Premier League each season - and most will be much more entertaining than that. So cheer up! See you soon folks. Ciao.

2214: Wow. Those recent accusations really rankle. Big Sam is launching an impassioned defence his Blackburn Rovers team. To paraphrase - we are not dirty, we can play good football, I'm paid to win football matches and not just entertain neutrals. Fair points.

Justin Powermonger, from Belfast, texts on 81111: "That game was wetter than Carlos Tevez's wet-look hairdo."

2209: Here's Big Sam [Allardyce]: "It feels like a win for us. We can't criticise the referee for the sending off. The reorganisation at half-time worked exceptionally well. It's a great point in the end."

2206: "We can't keep relying on Benty, who's not trained all week, to score us a goal," winces Steve Bruce (on Sky Sports). "That's our Achilles heel. It was a frustrating night. We are young and naive at times, but we have the makings of a very good young team."

2203: "It was a point gained," Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson tells Sky Sports. "We showed a lot of resilience. Great credit to the boys." His team-mate Phil Jones adds: "Sunderland are a good team and put us under a lot of pressure. It's a good point for us". Liverpool away then Chelsea at home the next two games for Rovers...

2159: Will the heavyweight Hollywood studios be entering into a bidding war for the storyline rights for that 90 minutes? I think not. But Sam Allardyce will be happy to get a point after Blackburn played with 10 men for 45 minutes. Guessing Steve Bruce will towel off and forget about it. Bereft of real creativity, it wasn't memorable.

2154: Ouch! Phil Bardsley eyes a late winner, but the Sunderland full-back can only drag the ball embarrassingly wide. Poor that.

2152: Three minutes of injury time awarded. Not long now. Sponsors have awarded Paul Robinson with man of the match award. Justified. Not long now. Bad slip at a corner for Blackburn, that's a waste.

2147: Benjani, I hear, was pretty uncomfortable leaving the pitch. Banged his head nastily as he fell when challenging for a ball. Will keep you posted. He's with medical staff. Zenden has just flashed a wild effort over the bar. Bent plants a tame header into Robinson's hands. Do Sunderland need reminding they could go seventh if they take the three points? Ball skidding off soaked surface...

2143: Much more action now. Blackburn's Benjani, who hasn't been on for long, goes off injured. Mame Biram Diouf (on-loan from Manchester United) replaces him. Boudewijn Zenden, who came on for Steed Malbranque, nearly heads Sunderland into the lead but cannot generate the pace needed. Gyan then forces Robinson to tip round his post acrobatically - one for the cameras? - with a curling effort towards the far corner. Game on with about five minutes left.

Mark, in Savannah USA ('25C and blue skies - but longing for Ewood'), texts: "Sir Alex is laughing? Maybe someone suggested swapping Rooney for Diouf."

2137: Titus Brambles lashes the ball away... no, that was actually a shot on Blackburn's goal from the Sunderland defender. Just looked like a clearance from the muscle-bound centre-back. "Barmy Army, Barmy Army," sing the fans. Impressive. Another sneaky opportunity for Benjani. But he cannot connect with his head.

2133: Rovers sitting deep and thus extremely difficult to break down. Who can blame them. This is where you need some real craft. Can Sunderland rise to the challenge? hang on. Benjani wriggles free and lashes a powerful shot... up into row Z! That should warm a pair of hands at least. Rain teeming down. Noise building though.

2126: Stick or twist? Hmmm. Twist...
Changes for both teams as Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan comes on for defender Nedum Onuha. That's bold. David Dunn and Benjani on for Blackburn. Malbranque drifts a long-range chip just over with Paul Robinson on holiday from his goalmouth. Something's brewing.

2121: Thick veins straining around a tree-trunk neck, Sunderland's Lee Cattermole is trying to rally his troops against the 10 men of a 'hold-what-we-have' Blackburn. Cat-calls ring out around the stadium. Red and white stripes boss possession. These Monday night matches have a unique 'atmosphere'. Are you a fan of them?

2116: What is they say? Head like a 50p coin. That's Darren Bent, on this particular occasion, as he woefully misdirects a decent Elmohamady cross away from goal. Decent chance that. Goalmouth scramble at the other end comes, ultimately, to nothing.

2112: Michel Salgado likes to play the ball on the floor. Not surprising. And apparently Blackburn's Spanish right-back had a chat with his old Real Madrid mates Guti and Raul about the prospect of joining him at Ewood Park. What a coup that would have been. That trio down the local wine lodge! Beyond comprehension?

2107: Second-half is under way. Darren Bent smashes an early free-kick into the mid-riff of Blackburn's wall. C'mon now goals...

2103: What do Bob Geldof and Sunderland have in common?
They don't like Mondays. Yes, our good friends at Infostrada Sports tell me that the Black Cats have not won any of their last 11 Premier League matches on a Monday evening - and that there's only one longer winless streak on Mondays [that of Coventry City].

Michael S in Lancashire texts on 81111: "Jobsworth award to Lee Probert - I can't believe he just made Pederson walk off the pitch, held up play while he trudged off, then blew the whistle for half time as soon as Robinson took the goal kick. Nonsense."

RememberScarborough on 606: "Nice to see a team of officials taking their time and getting it right. Mike Dean et all - take note."

2047: HALF-TIME. AND IT'S BLACKBURN 0-0 SUNDERLAND...
Referee 'didn't have a choice' is an early general analysis of that incident. But it will be scrutinised some more. I'd say it was touch-and-go. Samba is just such a big bloke, and he was last man and all over the back of battling Welbeck as he bore down on goal.

2044: CHRISTOPHER SAMBA IS SENT OFF!
All eyes on the referee as Danny Welbeck tangles with the giant Blackburn centre-half on the edge of the box before going down right on the edge. Lee Probert consults his linesman and raises a red card to the sky. Bit controversial. Dangerous free-kick this, though...

2040: Laughing heartily, Sir Alex Ferguson is in the crowd...
And the Manchester United boss doesn't look like he has a care in the world, despite all the talk that Wayne Rooney may want to leave Old Trafford. On the pitch, Blackburn's Pederson is putting some decent deliveries across with his left foot from the right wing - what a trend that is now right across world football. But Sunderland, who look more composed, are coping. Elmohamady is booked for a clear foul.

Al, 'a Blackburn fan in London', texts: "It's been a very eventful season. But lose tonight and next weekend is a relegation six pointer against Liverpool - and who would have thought that?"

2032: Although Nikola Kalinic has just headed a decent cross from Blackburn's controversial winger El-Hadji Ousseynou Diouf just wide. Bit more promising. Why is Diouf controversial? Well, aside from millions of incidents inside football grounds - and he's just needlessly shoved Phil Bardsley in the face - quickly check this out...

2027: Oil, Darren? Perhaps Bent is rusty. Don't forget, he wasn't fit enough for England's 0-0 draw with Montenegro and hasn't trained fully in the last week. Good save from Robinson. Super alert. Sorry Sam. But I'm seeing a fair few long and high balls from the hosts...

2023: DARREN BENT MISSES A ONE-ON-ONE!
Gael Givet slips on the sodden turf and canny Bent keeps his balance. Just Paul Robinson to beat - but he crashes the ball into the sprawling Blackburn keeper's body and the ball squirms to safety.

2021: What a waste for Sunderland. The hosts over-commit and speedy Jordan Henderson, in acres of space, feeds Ahmed Elmohamady early - perhaps too early - though the Egyptian international winger cannot find Darren Bent with two bites of the cherry. Hang on, Bent is wriggled free now and is one-on-one...

Christopher from Holland texts: "Great to see Sunderland play with 8 Englishmen! (Bardsley's still English to me...)"

2014: That was close! Surely Pederson is going to cross this free-kick. No, he's not. With a posse of giant players lurking around the six-yard box, he whips a dangerous free-kick towards goal which Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet has to desperately punch behind for a corner.

2009: Optimistic prediction that as it's been a fairly muted opening. Only spiced up by the on-rushing Sunderland minder Lee Cattermole throwing his hands up in the air and falling to the floor in the penalty area with a dive Tom Daley would be proud of. Admirably, referee Lee Probert completely blanks him. The visitors have settled though...

TheSportsDirector on 606: "I can see this being a game full of tackles - but also being open and expansive. I'm putting my money on a 4-2 Sunderland victory."

2004: Early skirmishes see Blackburn batter their way into Sunderland's box. But the Wearsiders break with youngster Jordan Henderson, tipped for England by some, showing a confident touch.

2000: Bang on time, we're under way. The droplets of water smashing down into the lush Lancashire turf are huge...

1956: Nervous smiles, pumped out chests. The teams stream out of the tunnel at Ewood Park where, quelle suprise, it's been absolutely sheeting down. Sunderland sit 15th in the table, Blackburn just below them [yep, 16th]. A win for either would take them up to seventh in the table: that's a huge incentive to go for the win, surely?

1950: Big boost for Sunderland as England international Bent, their top goalscorer, was a doubt. Danny Welbeck - who had been ineligible to play against his parent club Manchester United in their last game - has been recalled in place of Boudewijn Zenden, with Simon Mignolet still preferred in goal to fit-again Scotland stopper Craig Gordon. Blackburn boss Sam 'Big Sam' Allardyce has made two changes to the team which lost at Stoke: Martin Olsson comes in for the injured Ryan Nelsen and Nikola Kalinic replaces Mame Biram Diouf.

1946: TEAMS ARE IN... AND DARREN BENT STARTS!
BLACKBURN: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Givet, Olsson, Nzonzi, Jones, Emerton, Pedersen, El-Hadji Diouf, Kalinic.
Subs: Bunn, Dunn, Mwaruwari, Hoilett, Morris, Chimbonda, M Diouf.
SUNDERLAND: Mignolet, Onuoha, Turner, Bramble, Bardsley, Malbranque, Cattermole, Elmohamady, Henderson, Welbeck, Bent.
Subs: Gordon, Mensah, Zenden, Da Silva, Riveros, Ferdinand, Gyan.
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

1941: Love to know your thoughts on all that - and the proceedings taking place in 20 minutes: Sunderland's visit to Blackburn! Do get in touch: use 606 or SMS via 81111 (UK) or +44 7786200666 (worldwide). What awaits us. Drab draw or greedy goal-fest?

1935: Fernando Torres developing frostbite in Scunthorpe's dressing room as the heating goes on the blink again. Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez lifting a trophy together wearing sky blue. Andy Carroll finally moving into a granny flat at the end of Kevin Nolan's garden. All a bit crazy, I agree. But the frenzied newspapers will speculate.

1930: What a weekend of football that was. And we're still not quite done. Much more on Sunderland's visit to Blackburn shortly. But, we're not even a quarter into this Premier League campaign, and I've already got a disorientating vision of what next season might hold...