Whitehead struck his second goal of the season in the 82nd minute following a spell of concerted Sunderland pressure and Brown headed a second two minutes from the end.

Barnsley made Keane's side fight all the way for the points, but Andy Ritchie's newly-promoted outfit have now failed to win any of their last five league matches.

Keane responded to two successive defeats by recalling forwards Daryl Murphy and Chris Brown to his starting line-up while retaining fellow front men David Connolly and Dwight Yorke.

Kenny Cunningham and Liam Lawrence also returned as Keane made four changes from the side that went down 2-1 at Stoke in midweek. Grant Leadbitter, Liam Miller and Ross Wallace were all dropped to the bench.

Barnsley's sole change saw captain Paul Reid return to the centre of defence with Bobby Hassell reverting to full-back in place of Neil Austin.

Lawrence warmed visiting goalkeeper Colgan's hands with an early shot from just inside the penalty area and Barnsley's Sam Togwell sent a 25-yard shot wide, but there were few clear-cut openings in the first 25 minutes.

Tykes' four-goal striker Paul Hayes failed to get his shot on target when well-placed inside the area as both sides struggled to create an opening.

But Sunderland midfielder Whitehead livened things up with his acrobatic overhead kick from Nyron Nosworthy's cross, but Colgan made an easy catch.

Hassell saw his 12-yard shot blocked by Yorke and moments later Brown was denied by Reid at the other end - just before the break.

Keane was forced to replace the injured Kenny Cunningham during the break with Lewin Nyatanga, the 18-year-old Derby defender who signed on loan this week, making his debut.

But it was Barnsley who made the brighter start to the second period.

Antony Kay shot wide from the edge of the area and Marc Richards saw his header saved by Darren Ward, who then did well to keep out Martin Devaney's 20-yard shot.

In between Connolly's close-range effort was cleared by Kay and the £1.4million summer signing from Wigan then forced Colgan into a fine save, his shot from Lawrence's cross blocked by the Tykes goalkeeper.

Colgan denied Connolly twice more as Sunderland stepped up a gear, both shots from 12 yards either side of Whitehead's shot from the edge of the area that the Barnsley keeper also snaffled.

Barnsley replaced Brian Howard and Marc Richards with former Sunderland midfielder Colin Healy and Tommy Wright and the later unleashed a goalbound 25-yard shot within a minute that Ward saved at full stretch.

Lawrence saw his shot form inside the area blocked by Robbie Williams and Danny Collins' header was hacked clear by Kay before their pressure told in the 82nd minute.

Nosworthy crossed and Whitehead swept home his second goal of the season from 12 yards.

Sunderland were totally dominant by now and Brown went close to doubling their advantage with a shot that Colgan held.

But Brown was not to be denied in the 88th minute. Wallace, on for Murphy, crossed from the right and the young striker headed beyond Colgan into the bottom corner to make sure of three valuable points.