Kevin Nolan hailed Bolton's recent form after the 2-0 win over Sunderland gave them 10 points from 12 and almost certain Premier League safety.El-Hadji Diouf scored Wanderers' first with an angled drive three minutes before the break and Daryl Murphy headed an own goal to seal things at the Reebok Stadium.

The win means they are three points above Reading and Fulham in 16th, and are now incredibly close to securing top-flight survival.

Nolan told Setanta Sports: "Getting 10 points out of 12 is a magnificent achievement. We know we're not mathematically safe but this puts us a long way down the road to being safe.

"All the work behind the scenes is the reason we're in this position today.

"We've gone through a few tough times this season but all the players have stuck together. The pressure was on us to produce and we've done it and it goes a long way to ensuring Bolton are in the Premier League next season."

Wanderers striker Kevin Davies added: "It's a massive result. To turn it around is unbelievable and it looks like we're out of (trouble) now.

"Everyone knows it's been a difficult year, we want to get this season behind us now."

Megson was impressed by his team and said: "I can't ask any more of them in terms of every game they have played and the effort they have put in.

"We can play better because results haven't been enough to get us into a position where we hope a club like this could be, but in terms of where we were to where we are I can't complain at all."

Asked what had kept Bolton up - barring a last-day collapse - Megson said: "The honesty of the players and the integrity of the players.

"We haven't played brilliantly this afternoon but we play with our hearts on our sleeve and give everything we've got."

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