 McCarthy came off the bench to score the winner
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Benni McCarthy struck with a header late in extra-time as Blackburn saw off Sunderland to seal a fifth-round FA Cup tie against Coventry.
Zurab Khizanishvili hit the post for Rovers before David Healy put Sunderland ahead with a tidy finish.
Black Cats keeper Craig Gordon made several top saves but could not stop Aaron Mokoena's 25-yard strike.
Roque Santa Cruz failed to convert two headed chances but McCarthy made no mistake from Carlos Villaneuva's cross.
It was a game in which both teams had plenty of chances to win the tie before the South African striker struck from inside the six-yard box.
But Rovers boss Sam Allardyce and Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia had both suggested with their team selections that their priorities lie elsewhere this season.
Allardyce made eight changes from the team that drew with Middlesbrough and Sbragia six from the side that played Newcastle on Sunday.
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606: DEBATE
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Blackburn made the early running and almost got off to a sensational start but Khizanishvili's header rebounded off the post and was scrambled clear by young Black Cats defender Gordon Kay, while Gordon saved from David Dunn.
But it was Sunderland who took the lead, scoring with their first attack of the match.
Healy reacted before anyone else after Daryl Murphy's shot spun off Ryan Nelson and slotted the ball past Paul Robinson for only his second goal since joining Sunderland last summer.
Gordon, returning after 10 weeks sidelined with injury, was in excellent form and denied Keith Treacy and Jason Roberts as Rovers pushed for an equaliser.
Sunderland went close through Steed Malbranque but they were fortunate not to concede an equaliser when Santa Cruz wasted a glorious chance, heading wide from four yards.
Rovers did eventually level, with Mokoena scoring his first goal since March 2007 with a brilliant shot.
And Paraguay striker Santa Cruz had another great chance after the break but Gordon tipped his header from six yards over the post.
The home team, playing in front of a crowd of just 10,112, looked the more likely to score the game's third goal but Grant Leadbitter narrowly missed Robinson's goal with a well-struck right-foot effort.
Villanueva had a lively game for Rovers and almost snatched a winner with a free-kick that Gordon tipped over, while Khizanishvili could not hit the target with his header.
Andy Reid had a late chance for the Black Cats after he was picked out unmarked at the far post but his first shot was poor and the opportunity wasted.
Scoring opportunities petered out after the restart, though Robinson saved from Carlos Edwards, while Villaneuva shot narrowly wide as time ticked down to penalties.
But just when it seemed spot kicks were on the cards substitute McCarthy converted Villaneuva's cross to snatch victory for the home side.
Blackburn: Robinson, Simpson, Khizanishvili, Nelsen (Ooijer 87), Givet, Villanueva, Mokoena, Dunn (Kerimoglu 61), Treacy, Roque Santa Cruz (McCarthy 72), Roberts. Subs Not Used: Bunn, Pedersen, Olsson, Doran.
Booked: Simpson, Treacy, Mokoena.
Goals: Mokoena 37, McCarthy 118.
Sunderland: Gordon, Kay (Bardsley 56), Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney (Luscombe 106), Edwards, Leadbitter, Reid, Malbranque (Yorke 76), Healy, Murphy. Subs Not Used: Colgan, Whitehead, Richardson, Colback.
Booked: Kay, Leadbitter.
Goals: Healy 7.
Att: 10,112
Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match:
Sunderland's Dean Gordon 8.52 (on 90 minutes).
Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.
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