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.     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. Sunderland took their time to get into the game, but when they did, it was something of an explosion. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Bolo Zenden, who replaced Gyan shortly after his involvement in the Welbeck chance, snatched at a shot straight at Jaaskelainen on 82 minutes. 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.   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. 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.   Attendance: 35,101

Source: Northern_Echo