Sunderland Edge Closer to Safety with Valuable Point

Both sets of supporters left the Reebok Stadium frustrated not to have gained three points, but neither team will be overly disappointed with a point which eases Sunderland’s relegation fears for the time being and all but secures Bolton’s Premiership status for another season.

Kieran Richardson missed three good chances to put Sunderland ahead, while Grant Leadbitter hit the side netting before Sunderland’s rearguard cleared from Kevin Davis and Martin Fulop produced a fantastic injury time save from Gary Cahill.

Sunderlandstarted the game well after manager Ricky Sbrigia left out Djibril Cisse in favour of an extra midfielder.  The unusual 4-3-2-1 formation left Sunderland lacking wide men at times, but that didn’t stop them from dominating for almost all of the first half. 

Kenwyne Jones provided long range chances for both Richardson and Leadbitter, but both failed to test Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen.

Leadbitter found himself in a scoring position once again as he cut in from the left but again he missed the target, drilling his shot into the side netting.

This just before Richardson missed another good chance to put the Black Cats ahead as Jones once again provided the midfielder with an clear opportunity to score, but as before Jaaskelainen was not called into action.

Jones, who must have been frustrated to hear sections of the 5,000 strong travelling supporters grumbling at his performance, provided Richardson with yet another chance to shoot at goal, only to see another ball fly into the crowd. 

At this point Bolton fans were thankful to still be level, while the noisy Sunderland support frustrated to not see their team ahead, and they could well have been had it not been for a last gasp tackle from former Sunderland player Gavin McCann, who robbed Richardson of a chance to shoot just in time.

The second half saw Bolton come back into the game, with the addition of Mark Davies, who has been missing for two months, proving to be the catalyst that allowed Bolton to create some chances and trouble Sunderland. 

Rio Ferdinand managed to head clear after a bit of a goal-mouth scramble just after the hour mark and Sunderland were suddenly starting to look nervous and seemed to lose the calmness in their play and struggled to keep the ball for any period.

Their cause was not helped when striker Kenwyne Jones picked up and injury and was replaced by Djibril Cisse.

The game gradually started to come to a close without either goalkeeper being tested, but there was more to come. 

Sunderland could easily have found themselves in front after Cisse sent a ball flying across the goal line with Jaaskelainen just getting a touch, and should have had a dangerous free kick when Andy Reid had the ball taken from him by what seemed a blatant handball, but the with the referee’s view impaired the linesman failed to spot the indiscretion.

During injury time Bolton almost snatched all three points only to be denied by Martin Fulop when the Hungarian keeper tipped the ball away at full stretch from a Gary Cahill header, perhaps a save that will keep Sunderland in the Premiership.

Sunderland now sit five points clear of relegation, but Newcastle and Middlesbrough, who meet on Monday night, have the chance to close that gap.