Kenwyne Jones

By The Black Cats
January 1 2009

Visitors to the Stadium of Light this Saturday are Gary Megson's Bolton Wanderers, who have arelady beaten Sunderland on Wearside this season. The last time the two sides met Bolton were victorious, winning by 4 goals to 1 after Sunderland went ahead early on in the game.

On that occasion Djibril Cisse put the Black Cats ahead in the first 10 minutes after good work by Steed Malbranque and a perfecetly weighted throughball put Cisse through on Bolton's Juusi Jaskelainen, the Frenchman making no mistakes slotted the ball ito the bottom corner.

Sadly that was the only good thing about Sunderland that day, Bolton equalised shortly after the Cisse goal and never looked back, out classing Sunderland all over the pitch.

That game effectively ended Roy Keane's "reign of terror" on Wearside and new Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia will be looking to get back to winning ways after a couple of poor defeats following a great start to his Managerial career.

Michael Chopra, who has just returned from his loan spell at Cardiff City, is doubtful for the game as he is suffering from an injury.

Sunderland will have Danny Collins, Andy Reid and Anton Ferdinand available for the FA Cup third round tie, Reid and Ferdinand both fell ill on the eve of the Everton game, while Collins hurt his face in a clash with Everton's Fellaini.

"We just want to get on to the winning road again, that's important," said Sbragia. "I don't think any game gets in your way. We know what we're here for, what we've got to do in terms of the league, but to do well in the cup would be good for the club."

Bolton have recalled Nicky hunt from his loan spell due to injuries, and should have key men Johan Elmander, Kevin Davies and Gavin MCann fit when they visit the Stadium of Light.

Bolton will be without Omani goalie Al Habsi as he is heading off to the Gulf cup.

Danny Shittu looks likely to play in place of Andy O'Brien or Gary Cahill after a good perfomance against Wigan last weekend.

I'm sure ex Sunderland player and fan favourite Gavin McCann will be looking to impress at his old club again.

I'm not too confident that we'll get a result this time, but do think we'll have a better chance if we play El Hadji Diouf on the left wing instead of Andy Reid. If anyone's going to do any damage against the whitemen it will be Diouf.

To win this one we're going to need pace down the wings and to keep Kevin Davies from winning the long ball. Personally I think Nyron Nosworthy could do a job on him on Saturday and hope he's started with Ferdinand.