Sunderland 1 Bolton 0: Black Cats move up to sixth after Danny Welbeck strike

Steve Bruce has never won a game against Manchester United despite 16 attempts and he goes to Old Trafford on Boxing Day without six players.Among them is his skipper, Lee Cattermole, who will be banned as a result of yet another transgression here, while on-loan Danny Welbeck will not be allowed to play against his parent club.You suspect that Welbeck will be the biggest miss. Party time: Danny Welbeck wheels away to be mobbed by his Sunderland teammatesHis fifth goal in six matches helpedSunderland leapfrog Bolton into sixth place a reward for stubborn, ifat times fortunate, defending and a meteorological situation whichturned the Stadium of Light into a green oasis in a white wilderness.Sir Alex Ferguson has already declared that Welbeck, 20, may be out of sight but is far from out of his mind. He will return to the United foldnext season much the better for developing his craft on the back ofchances that may not have come his way as a little fish in a big pond. When he does, look out for the minnow that became a barracuda.Welbeck's 32nd-minute goal was aclassic example of opportunist finishing by a born goalscorer. It takesnatural instinct to mentally register an opening and then reactaccordingly all in a split second.He did just that after goalkeeperJussi Jaaskelainen's block from Darren Bent's close-range volley sentthe ball ricocheting towards him in a crowded goalmouth. He stoops to conquer: Danny Welbeck gives Sunderland the leadAnd he quickly launched into a dive to power a header between the legs of both Jaaskelainen and Gary Cahill. 'He is a fantastic player and we're lucky to have him here,' said Bruce.'He has infectious enthusiasm; heloves training and he has been terrific on the pitch. I always knew wemight have problems keeping him, but who knows?'Bruce and Ferguson share the same birthday New Year's Eve an opportunity for some friendly persuasion perhaps? 'If I can get Sir Alex drunk, he might get generous in his old age but I doubt it,' quipped the pupil of his mentor. Bruce knows he probably got hisanswer to that a few weeks ago, minutes after he texted his old boss,praising Welbeck's performance in the victory at Chelsea. Ferguson's reply was short and typically opportune: 'Yes, and I'll be watching him every week next season.' Close run thing: Asamoah Gyan sees his shot beat Jussi Jaaskelainen, but go wideSorry, Brucie, even if Fergusondecides that Welbeck will be surplus to requirements at United, hisgoal yesterday was the sort of gilt-edged finish that will add anothermillion or two to his value. 'I came here to gain experience and I'm really happy with the way things are going,' said Welbeck. 'We have a terrific team spirit within the club and I'm really enjoying my time here.' Bolton boss Owen Coyle knows the value of on-loan starlets. Last season, he borrowed Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere and witnessed his burgeoning talent first hand. Match FactsSUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon; Onuoha, Mensah (Elmohamady 21min), Ferdinand, Bardsley; Henderson, Cattermole, Richardson, Welbeck; Bent, Gyan (Zenden 73). Subs (not used): Mignolet, Angeleri, Malbranque, Da Silva, Riveros. Booked: Cattermole.BOLTON (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen; Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Taylor (Moreno 83), Muamba (Cohen 83), Holden, Petrov (Klasnic 63); K Davies, Elmander. Subs (not used): Bogdan, Steinsson, Blake, Lee. Booked: Cahill, Holden, Muamba.REFEREE: C Foy (Merseyside). ATTENDANCE: 35,101'Jack has become a better player as a result of his time with us Welbeck will be the same,' said Coyle. 'These are in win- win situations.The team they go to benefit; the players benefit and their clubsbenefit because they come back much improved.' Coyle was justifiably disappointedthat his team could not profit from a wealth of opportunities in theirfinal-half-hour onslaught. 'It was like the Alamo out there. 'We had plenty of chances to win the game but we didn't manage to take any of them,' he said.The biggest culprit was IvanKlasnic, a 63rd-minute replacement for Martin Petrov. The worst of astring of misses came in added time when, six yards out, Klasnicblasted a shot well off target. No wonder he was still hanging his headminutes after the whistle.But there were pivotal momentsbefore that. Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon's one-handed save fromZat Knight in first-half added time was a stupendous effort, somehowscooping the ball over from a close-range volley.Bruce dared to compare it with Jim Montgomery's incredible double save in the 1973 FA Cup final against Leeds United.But he will be more concerned thatas well as Michael Turner, Titus Bramble, Welbeck, John Mensah andFraizer Campbell, Cattermole will be sidelined at Old Trafford onBoxing Day, following his 40th-minute booking for a foul on StuartHolden.It could have been a lot worse had Chris Foy not looked kindly on a more serious challenge on Johan Elmander. So when Cattermole cuts out the lunging tackles, he will become an even greater asset as competitor rather than spectator. Sunderland 1 Bolton 0  Coyle sees red with Bruce after saying Cattermole should have been sent offSteve Bruce EXCLUSIVE: I love Sunderland but I'd like to boss EnglandSunderland v Bolton: All the action as it happenedBOLTON WANDERERS FC

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