Substitute Ellis Simms snatched a stoppage-time winner as Sunderland came from behind to beat Blackburn at the Stadium of Light, where Ross Stewart scored at both ends.
Striker Stewart, making his first start in four months, headed Tyler Morton's free-kick into his own net to give Rovers an early lead.
But Stewart atoned for his error two minutes later, winning and scoring a penalty to make it 1-1.
It looked as though the points would be shared until Blackburn failed to clear a free-kick and Simms stabbed home.
The Black Cats dominated the early stages and Patrick Roberts went close with a drive that was charged down by Rovers' Bradley Dack.