Source: Northern_Echo
Welbeck winner just the tonic for cool Cats
DANNY Welbeck's first-half diving header was the difference between Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers in a frosty encounter at the Stadium of Light.[LNB] [LNB] [LNB] While conditions outside of the ground were positively baltic, the on-loan Manchester United man's 32nd minute goal proved to be a winter warmer for the 35,101 on Wearside.[LNB] Sunderland took their time to get into the game, but when they did, it was something of an explosion.[LNB] Firstly, Asamoah Gyan, partnering Darren Bent in attack for the second home game in succession, did well to trick his way past Zat Knight on 31 minutes before firing a shot at Jussi Jaaskelainen which took a deflection off Gary Cahill. Ironically, if it wasn't for the deflection it would have surely been a goal.[LNB] But the Black Cats were celebrating a minute later. Bent did terrifically well to control a wayward Jordan Henderson cross and fired his shot at Jaaskelainen's shoulder. Welbeck was best-placed to dive in and head into the goal.[LNB] Sunderland's attack at times comprised Gyan, Bent and the on-loan Welbeck to stunning effect, but it was Bolton who almost drew level before half-time.[LNB] Gary Cahill headed across the face of goal and Knight stuck a boot out, drawing a simply world-class save from Craig Gordon in the Sunderland goal. The Scot instinctively stuck a glove out to tip Knight's goalbound effort away from danger. If there were any question marks above his head before kick off, those were surely extinguished right there.[LNB] The second half became more of a pitched battle than a football match. Bolton, under something of a revolution with Owen Coyle at the helm after a string of attractive displays, almost reverted to type on Wearside, bringing Ivan Klasnic on in attack to provide some aerial competition.[LNB] It wasn't until the 70th minute when Sunderland had a real effort, with Welbeck starting and finishing a promising passage of play. First, Welbeck found Darren Bent, who touched outside to Henderson, who whipped a pass past Bent and to the feet of Gyan. The Ghanaian cut back to Welbeck, whose shot crept past Jaaskelainen and hit the foot of the post.[LNB] Bolo Zenden, who replaced Gyan shortly after his involvement in the Welbeck chance, snatched at a shot straight at Jaaskelainen on 82 minutes.[LNB] Bolton did rally late on, but the extra man in attack Klasnic could not make the breakthrough for the visitors and Sunderland weathered the storm. As a result, Steve Bruce's team maintained their course for a place in the Europa League next season.[LNB] [LNB] SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon; Onuoha, Ferdinand, Mensah (Elmohamady 22), Bardsley; Henderson, Cattermole, Richardson, Welbeck; Gyan (Zenden 74), Bent. Subs not used: Mignolet (gk), Angeleri, Malbranque, Da Silva, Riveros.[LNB] BOLTON (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen; Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Holden, Petrov (Klasnic 63), Muamba (Cohen 83), Taylor (Moreno 83); Davies, Elmander. Subs not used: Bogdan, Steinsson, Blake, Lee.[LNB] [LNB] Attendance: 35,101[LNB]
