Kevin Davies and Kevin Nolan struck in the second half to further stretch the Wanderers unbeaten home record and inflict further misery on the Black Cats who now look certain to be making a swift return back to the Championship after just one season back in the elite.

The game took its time to warm up and chances where very few and far between in the first quarter of an hour, owing largely to the fact that Sunderland had kept a number of players behind the ball and defended stoutly.

Wanderers skipper Nolan curled an effort from the edge of the area around the left post of goalkeeper Kelvin Davis and this attempt was soon followed by a close range effort by youngster Ricardo Vaz-Te who had reacted first time when fellow striker Kevin Davies flicked the ball into his path.

On 26 minutes came the hosts best chance of the half so far as the forementioned Davies saw his powerful header from Gary Speed's left wing cross well saved by namesake Davis in the Sunderland goal.

Bolton suffered a huge blow to their plans midway through the first half as the in form Jamaican wing back Ricardo Gardner was helped off the field of play after a heavy collison just outside the Sunderland penalty area. The Reggae Boyz captain was immediately replaced by last weekend's matchwinner Henrik Pedersen who slotted into the defence.

Five minutes before the interval lively midfielder Nolan cheekily tried to catch out the Sunderland goalkeeper with a chip after juggling the ball through the opposing defenders.

The second half saw Wanderers up their game somewhat and their efforts where rewarded just two minutes in as Kevin Davies darted into the danger area to head home Stelios Giannakopoulos right wing corner.

It proved to be the third goal in four games for the former Southampton forward Davies who worked hard all afternoon to combat the obvious aeriel ability of the Mackems central defensive pair Danny Collins and Steven Caldwell.

Sunderland offered little in the way of attacking flair and this was evident as substitute Chris Brown was brought on in place of the injury prone Scottish international Kevin Kyle who was leading the line single handedly.

Experienced defender Gary Breen also entered the proceedings for the Black Cats in a change which was much to the disgust of the travelling North East support who made their feelings known for the rest of the game.

Bolton waited patiently to break down their opponents and the matchwinning goal finally came with just five minutes left on the clock as Kevin Nolan poked the ball home after Kelvin Davis had saved the initial stooping header from Gary Speed.

Speed himself could have got on the scoring act but his curling free kick was pawed away by Davis in the final seconds of the match.

Next weekend sees the Wanderers make the journey up to the Riverside Stadium to face Middlesbrough.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Joey O'Brien, Tal Ben-Haim, Bruno N'Gotty, Ricardo Gardner (Henrik Pedersen), Kevin Nolan, Jay-Jay Okocha (Abdoulaye Faye), Gary Speed, Stelios Giannakopoulos, Kevin Davies, Ricardo Vaz-Te (Jared Borgetti)

Subs Not Used: Ian Walker, Hidetoshi Nakata

Sunderland: Kelvin Davis, Nyron Nosworthy, Steven Caldwell, Danny Collins, George McCartney, Rory Delap, Dean Whitehead, Tommy Miller, Grant Leadbitter (Gary Breen), Dan Smith (Daryl Murphy), Kevin Kyle (Chris Brown)

Subs Not Used: Ben Alnwick, Christian Basilla

Referee:

Phil Dowd

Attendance:

23,568

Booked:

Kevin Kyle (Sunderland)

Rory Delap (Sunderland)

Kevin Nolan (Bolton)

Gary Breen (Sunderland)

Chris Brown (Sunderland)

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