A few weeks ago Sunderland were congratulated on reaching to top of the league and although few expected them stay there now is the time to proudly hail them as league champions after this brilliant win over Blackburn Rovers. Preston’s defeat at Aston Villa had made the title absolutely certain for even if they lose their 2 remaining matches they cannot be overtaken. This is an honour even greater than winning the English Cup and everyone in the North East should be proud of Sunderland's magnificent achievement in only their 2nd season in the league. Blackburn have not had a good season and this completed their fixtures of which they have won only 10. Nevertheless Sunderland folk have always had a healthy regard for Rovers for no finer team than the Rovers of old had ever taken the field. Blackburn were weakened by the absence of Southworth, Forrest, Townley and Lofthouse through injury though had they played the result might not have been much different. Auld and Scott were missing from the Sunderland team which had to be re-organised but the decisive result is testament to the strength of the Sunderland reserves.
Sunderland attacked again and Dewar and Forbes did some grand work in the Blackburn defence. H Campbell broke away for the visitors and got well into home territory until Gow put in a good tackle and cleared the ball with a huge kick that carried the ball right into the Rovers goalmouth. Arthur was forced to concede a corner that was cleared but Sunderland hung around the Rovers goalmouth without being able to find a way through. Walton and Campbell tried again for Rovers but found Gow too good fore them and the home right wing raced away. Smith whipped in a centre and Campbell met it first time to bang the ball low past Arthur in the Rovers goal with 8 minutes gone. Blackburn attacked from the restart and when Porteous failed to intercept Doig was called upon to save. Play moved to the other end and Millar and Campbell sent shots wide of the Rovers goal. Sunderland kept up the pressure but in a brief raid Rovers won a free kick which Forbes fired straight into the net and the “goal” was not allowed. Rovers tried again and spent a while attacking but Gow and Porteous kept them at bay. Millar and Hannah dashed away and crossed the ball to Campbell but he was robbed by Forbes. Gibson got the ball back in and Campbell drove a fine shot against the crossbar and when the ball came back into play Smith hammered it against the post. Walton made a fine run for Blackburn and when he whipped the ball in Hall sent a powerful header past Doig to level the scores. The game had barely restarted when Wilson put over a fine centre and Millar (pictured above) headed the ball through to restore Sunderland's lead. Immediately afterwards Arthur saved a grand shot from Millar and following up Wilson’s shot struck the post. Sunderland continued to dominate the play and were playing with considerable dash. Shots rained in on the Blackburn goal from all sides but all were well saved by goalkeeper Arthur or the full backs. Campbell sent one effort over the bar and Gibson put a fine header just wide of the target. Sunderland continued to attack for some time until Walton broke the monotony for Rovers but Gow pulled them up sharply. The home side forced the pace again and Arthur was kept very busy in the Rovers goal until he was eventually beaten by a shot from D. Hannah for Sunderland's 3rd goal. Arthur saved again soon afterwards and then just before halftime through Walton raced away and centred to Hall who was pulled up for offside. Halftime arrived with the home side 3-1 up. For a while after the resumption the wind dropped considerably and the home side began to press again. Stringfellow handled and Sunderland got a free kick. The free kick produced some smart exchanges and after Dewar cleared well Murray shot over the bar. Sunderland still had the better of exchanges but a free kick to Rovers gave Walton the chance to get away and H. Campbell had a header saved by Doig. The Rovers attack was very brief and D. Hannah dashed away to send a long shot over the Blackburn crossbar. A spell of even play followed with the home side apparently having a rest. Smith and J. Hannah got busy but Forbes checked them and Hall took the ball up again. Gow skied it and Rovers had a good opening but Gow recovered his mistake and got the ball up to Campbell. The home centre forward dashed away and fired in a shot that Arthur turned round the post. Sunderland pressed hard from the corner and when Millar swung the ball in Campbell drove home Sunderland's 4th goal. Rovers claimed Campbell was offside but the referee waved aside their protests. Millar and D. Hannah were proving very troublesome to the visitors and had good shots blocked by McKeown and Forbes. Rovers visited the home end briefly but Sunderland were soon back on the attack and Campbell and Millar brought saves from Arthur. Again and again Sunderland attacked and Wilson and J. Hannah put in capital shots that were well kept out by desperate defensive play. Wilson struck the crossbar with a beauty and Gow sent in a couple of long shots that were cleared. Sunderland forced a corner and when Murray headed the ball on Campbell nipped in and headed home Sunderland’s 5th goal. Blackburn were struggling to cope with the home sides constant attacks and D. Hannah netted but was ruled offside. However two minutes before the close J. Hannah rounded off a grand day for the home side when he slotted in Sunderland's 6th goal. Blackburn had played Darwen on Good Friday and did not leave home until midnight on Friday and arrived in Sunderland very tired and jaded early on Saturday morning but for all that their performance was very disappointing. Sunderland: Doig, Porteous, Gow, Wilson, Gibson, Murray, Hannah J, Smith, Campbell (3), Millar, Hannah D Referee: Mr. RH Lythgoe, Liverpool Attendance 10,000
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Blackburn are a big draw on Wearside and a crowd of 10,000 lined the barriers. Blackburn were well supported for a heavily laden excursion ran from the Lancashire town. Excursions also ran from the local district and the approaches to the ground were thronged with people long before kick off time. Sunderland won the toss and took advantage of the wind and when Rovers kicked off the stands were a mass of people. Neat passing took Sunderland well into Rovers territory until Murray gave away a free kick that Porteous kicked away.