Bolton Wanderers 0 Sunderland 1: match report

15 August 2009 17:03
It was a chance that Harry Redknapp's wife, Sandra, might have struggled with and the confidence with which Darren Bent headed in with just four minutes gone here, summed up the transformation that has taken place for the forward, and his new club Sunderland , since the end of last season. In the penultimate round of Premier League fixtures in mid-May, Bent was not involved in Redknapp's 18-man squad for a 2-1 win over Manchester City, while Ricky Sbragia's Sunderland scrapped their way to a point at the Reebok that would keep them in the top flight. Ellis Short's takeover was completed and three months on, and with Bent, who joined in a protracted £10 million move earlier this month, one of just four additions to the Sunderland squad made by the new manager Steve Bruce, the team in red and white looked completely reinvigorated in the opening period as they swept past a Bolton Wanderers team that looked all too similar to last season's vintage. Another new signing, Lee Cattermole was probably even more impressive as he dominated the centre of the field. From the start, they stretched Bolton and it was no surprise when they moved in front in just the fifth minute. The inventive Steed Malbranque clipped a cross to the far post and Bent rose higher than Paul Robinson to aim a header back across goal and past Jussi Jaaskelainen. The visitors spent much of the opening period toying with Gary Megson's side and, but for poor finishing and some fine saves from Jaaskelainen, should have been well ahead at the interval. Kieran Richardson and Bent were both denied after slick passing moves and Kenwyne Jones failed to hit the target with a couple of headers. Bolton showed just why Megson is so desperate to recruit a striker and barely threatened until the Sunderland goalkeeper Martin Fulop pulled off an impressive reaction save from Gary Cahill's header. There was a little more from the hosts after the interval and Kevin Davies' back-header was swatted away by Fulop and Johan Elmander also missed with a sliced shot. With few options on the bench, Bolton applied plenty of pressure but Fulop blocked Sean Davis from close range in added time as Sunderland held on for a significant victory.

Source: Telegraph