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  • Cisse (11)
  • Taylor (18), Cahill (21), Elmander (39), Elmander (55)
  • Date:2008-11-29
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:Stadium of Light
  • Attendance:35457
  • Referee:Foy, C

Live Commentary

90mins

FULL-TIME: SUNDERLAND 1-4 BOLTON. This has been a brilliant performance from Bolton to spoil Roy Keane's 100th game in charge party

90mins

Not long left now and what a performance from Bolton - the fourth official has signalled two extra minutes.

88mins

Chris Basham replaces Johan Elmander for Bolton, Gary Megson looking to give the youngster some experience.

88mins

Gavin McCann goes into the book for Bolton.

87mins

It's emptying out at the Stadium of Light and the game seems to have completely died now.

84mins

Cisse takes a shot from 25 yards out but its high and wide, very poor and you're not going to score like that.

81mins

Well Sunderland do look like a beaten team now, I really can't see Bolton losing.

77mins

Bardsley sends a ball forward to Cisse but it's not good enough, Cisse looks back at Bardsley in disgust which isn't really what you want your players doing if you're Roy Keane.

74mins

All the sting has gone from this game now, Bolton just looking organised and restricting Sunderland to half chances without wanting to get forward.

72mins

Some fantastic work from Kevin Davies puts Elmander through but his shot goes just inches wide of Craig Gordon's post.

70mins

Chimbonda puts in a dangerous looking cross into the Bolton penalty area but it's just too long and runs out for a goal kick.

68mins

The double substitution doesn't seem to have helped Sunderland much and Bolton are well in control, they've taken their foot of the gas a bit now and seem happy with a 3 goal lead.

65mins

Phil Bardsley goes into the book for a foul on Kevin Nolan.

63mins

Teemu Tainio and Liam Miller replace Steed Malbranque and Andy Reid for Sunderland, could be too little too late from Keane in terms of changing the game.

62mins

Chance for Elmander to get his hat trick but his shot is off target, he's had a brilliant game today Elmander and is starting to fit into this Bolton side after a turbulent start.

61mins

Sunderland come forward through Malbranque but Elmander of all people is back to defend for Bolton.

58mins

I can't see any way back for Sunderland now, they look thoroughly deflated now and seem to have no ideas.

55mins

SUNDERLAND 1-4 BOLTON. It just gets worse for Sunderland, Nolan takes advantage of some poor defending and plays the ball to ELMANDER, he takes an absolute age over his shot but smashes it past Gordon giving the Sunderland keeper no chance.

53mins

Brilliant defending from Nosworthy to take the ball off Gardner at the crucial moment.

51mins

Bolton have just had two corners in quick succession but Collins manages to clear for Sunderland.

50mins

McCann takes a wicked shot from 25 yards out but Gordon makes an even better save in the Sunderland goal.

49mins

Bolton looking confident at the moment and I can see them extending their lead rather than Sunderland getting back into it.

47mins

Andy Reid was in a great position to cross but he fluffs it and Bolton have a goal kick.

45mins

Kieran Richardson replaced by Grant Leadbitter (Sunderland) and Matt Taylor replaced by Ricardo Gardner (Bolton) at half time, I think they both must be due to injury.

45mins

The second half is underway at the Stadium of Light and Sunderland are going to have to really up their game to get anything today.

45mins

SUNDERLAND 1-3 BOLTON. Half time at the Stadium of Light and so far it's just more misery at home for Roy Keane.

45mins

Two minutes of stoppage time added on, Cisse just played in a great ball looking for Jones but it missed his head by about an inch, could easily have been 2-3.

44mins

Bolton take a long free kick looking for Kevin Davies but Sunderland clear.

43mins

Bolton coming forward again, just looking to retain the ball and keep this lead until half time. It really has been a good performance from Megson's men so far and Roy Keane will have some harsh words for his players at half time.

42mins

Nyron Nosworthy has become the second man to be booked in the game.

41mins

Sunderland look a bit shell shocked now, they've had plenty of possesion but haven't done anything with it.

39mins

SUNDERLAND 1-3 BOLTON. ELMANDER slots the ball past Gordon with a very composed finish, poor defending from Danny Collins let Elmander in and it could be a Bolton rout if it carries on like this.

38mins

Mix up between Samuel and Jaaskelainen nearly lets Malbranque in to nick a Sunderland equaliser, poor defending and Bolton are lucky to get away with that.

35mins

Good link up play from Cisse and Jones for Sunderland but Cisse's shot goes wide, a lot of pace in this Sunderland side and Bolton will have to watch them on the break.

34mins

All Bolton at the moment, for some reason Sunderland keep trying to pass the ball around in defence and Bolton keep robbing them, it's a dangerous way to play.

33mins

Muamba puts Elmander through, Elmander goes round Gordon but hits his shot over the bar from a tight angle, you think at £11million he should probably score from there.

32mins

Muamba blasts well over for Bolton, frankly a ridiculous effort, shooting is not this boys strong point.

31mins

Goal disallowed for Sunderland, Jones heads onto the Bolton cross bar and the ball falls to Cisse but the assistant had already flagged for something, not sure whether it was a foul or offside and it's a bizarre decision.

30mins

Looks like Gary Megson agrees with me, theres a break in play and the Bolton boss is having a word with the fourth official.

29mins

Elmander dumped to the floor with Bolton on the break but referee Mr Foy waves play on, looked a foul to me but then again I'm no referee.

27mins

Another Sunderland corner, Malbranque takes but it's hit too long and Bolton win a throw in deep in their own half.

26mins

Bolton's midfield running the show at the moment, Nolan and Muamba have really started to work together well over the last few weeks and Bolton look a good side.

25mins

Sunderland win their first corner, Malbranque takes but O'Brien clears for Bolton.

23mins

Cracking opening period at the Stadium of Light, you get the feeling that after that quick turn around Sunderland might fall apart but there's plenty of time to go.

21mins

SUNDERLAND 1-2 BOLTON. What a turn around. From a long free kick the ball breaks to Gary CAHILL who smashes a shot from 18 yards out more fitting of a centre forward than a centre half.

20mins

Kieran Richardson booked for a foul on Kevin Davies while Bolton were on the break, very cynical from the former Manchester United player.

18mins

SUNDERLAND 1-1 BOLTON. Matt TAYLOR scores a superb header from 10 yards out after a brilliant cross from Steinsson. What a game on Wearside!

16mins

Elmader fouled while Bolton were on the break, from the free kick Davies gets on the end of it but his flick goes halmlessly through to Gordon in the Sundrland goal.

14mins

Bolton have reacted quite well to that goal and have tried to get on the attack straight away but Whitehead managed to take the ball off Elmander.

11mins

SUNDERLAND 1-0 BOLTON. Djibril CISSE gets on the end of a brilliant defence splitting pass from Steed Malbranque and slots the ball past Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal.

10mins

Bolton corner but Nosworthy clears for Sunderland, they break through Malbranque but Bolton get back quick enough.

8mins

Jones hits a shot from range but Jaaskelainen saves comfortably, Jones looks to be Sunderland's danger man and he's just taken an overhead kick shot but he missed the ball completely.

7mins

Kenwyne Jones has just rifled a dangerous looking cross into the Bolton penalty area but Taylor clears for Bolton.

6mins

Very tentative start from Sunderland, they're looking to play balls for Cisse and Jones to run onto but so far Bolton are dealing with it well.

4mins

Bolton on top in the early stages, they look well organised defensively and Sunderland are getting no time on the ball at the moment.

3mins

McCann takes this corner, Davies gets a head to it but it goes behind for a goal kick.

2mins

Bolton corner after Samuel's cross is cleared. Taylor takes and wins another corner.

1mins

It's underway at the Stadium of Light, today's referee is Chris Foy.

0mins

Kick off fast approaching at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland have floundered lately and have lost their last 3 at home, while Bolton have won their last 2 away so we could be on for a tough battle today.

0mins

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, A O'Brien, Samuel, Muamba, Davies, Nolan, McCann, Taylor, Elmander. Subs: Al Habsi, Smolarek, Gardner, Riga, Shittu, Basham, Obadeyi

0mins

Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Nosworthy, Collins, Chimbonda, Malbranque, Whitehead, Richardson, Reid, Cisse, Jones. Subs: Fullop, Tainio, Diouf, Miller, Murphy, Leadbitter, Ferdinand

Match Preview

Sunderland face Bolton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon knowing that defeat will see them fall into the drop zone - and anger from the fans could reach fever pitch.

The Black Cats come into the weekend just one place and one point above Newcastle, with a recent record of two wins, six defeats and two draws in their last ten games.

Manager Roy Keane has defended the supporters' right to protest at their poor form, pointing out: "Expectations are high but if you want to play for a big club like Sunderland you have to be used to that."

Speaking about last weekend's 1-0 defeat to West Ham, he added: "When you look back on the last couple of home matches, we've gone into the game thinking we can get something out of it.

"I certainly think we haven't deserved to lose the game. There can be arguments about whether we deserved to win the game, but I certainly don't think we deserved to lose."

The Black Cats at least welcomed back winger Carlos Edwards against the Hammers - the injury-plagued Trinidadian who had only just been recalled from a loan move to Wolves.

He added weight to Keane's belief that the Black Cats haven't played poorly of late, they have just failed to secure points.

"They took their chance and we didn't, so we get zilch. We are scrapping for points and we gave away three of them," he added.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon and defender George McCartney face late fitness tests for the second week running, while Edwards will be hoping for a start after coming on for Steed Malbranque last week.

Opponents Bolton have only Joey O'Brien's on the treatment table as they look for a fourth league win in five games.

The Trotters do have a resurgent star in Johan Elmander - who has found life frustrating since his £10million summer move from Toulouse - but scored last week for the first time since mid-August as the Trotters continued their upward momentum with a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough.


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Match Report

All the talk on Wearside is of a club in crisis after Sunderland crashed to an embarrassing and heavy 4-1 defeat at home to Bolton Wanderers.

The Black Cats have now lost their last four games at the Stadium of Light in all competitions.

And unless they can rediscover their confidence it may be some time before Roy Keane's men can bring this unwanted sequence to an end.

Lady Luck may not have been on the Red and Whites' side in previous home games, but the hosts had no-one but themselves to blame for their capitulation against Wanderers.

And yet it had all looked plain sailing when Sunderland took the lead as early as the 11th minute.

Steed Malbranque released Djibril Cisse and the striker calmly slotted past Jussi Jaaskelainen to put his side 1-0 up.

It should have been the shot in the arm that the home side and their fans were looking for, but instead the wheels came in spectacular fashion as they gift-wrapped three points and handed them to Gary Megson's side all too readily.

It certainly wasn't what Keane was looking for from his 100th game as Sunderland boss.

Had the landmark brought a victory you can bet the Irishman would have passed it off as just another game.

But the manner of this defeat and the way it was conceded means Keane won't forget his century in a hurry.

After all it was the hosts who were the chief architects in their own downfall.

The Black Cats' back four simply allowed themselves to be bullied by Wanderers as time and time again Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander won a crucial header.

It was from just one such header that the visitors drew level.

Gretar Steinsson's 17th minute throw-in looked to be no real danger, but the home defence failed to deal with it and allowed the Bolton star to get on the end of his own throw and cross into the area.

Yet again the Wearsiders were caught flat-footed and Matt Taylor got up to head home and kickstart the rout.

Four minutes later it was 2-1 to Wanderers. A deep free-kick from Andy O'Brien dropped into the path of Gary Cahill and he fired in from close range.

With the first half coming to a close, things got even worse for the Wearsiders thanks to a dreadful error by Danny Collins.

The centre-back looked to have everything under control as he went to deal with a long ball over the top, but he misjudged the flight and Elmander raced through on goal to make it 3-1.

The hosts were treated to a crescendo of boos as the half-time whistle sounded, but for their fans the suffering was far from over.

The home defence was found wanting once more on 54 minutes as a quick breakaway saw Kevin Nolan play in Elmander for his second and Bolton's fourth of the afternoon.

Sunderland kept looking for a way back into the clash, but by then they were in need of a minor miracle.

It may be the start of the season of goodwill, but there was no way the visitors were in any mood to gift the Black Cats an opening.

In the end Wanderers held firm for a deserved victory and the Wearsiders were left to wonder if the season that promised so much will ever get out of the starting blocks.

Sunderland

Bolton Wanderers

Corners

56

Fouls

96

Goal attempts

1511

Shots off target

55

Offsides

41

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