Premier League - Bent heads Sunderland to victory

Eurosport - Sat, 15 Aug 20:47:00 2009

A fifth-minute header from Darren Bent was enough for Sunderland to beat Bolton 1-0 and give new manager Steve Bruce the perfect start to his side's Premier League campaign.

2009-2010 Sunderland Steve Bruce - 0

Bent and strike-partner Kenwyne Jones wreaked havoc early on for the visitors, and Steve Bruce's new signing rose to convert a pinpoint cross from Steed Malbranque.

The Black Cats could have had significantly more as the Bolton defence failed to contain the dynamic duo, with goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen in inspired form.

Trotters boss Gary Megson was livid on the touchline as Jones was afforded two gilt-edge chances to double the visitors' lead with free headers.

Kieran Richardson and Malbranque were instrumental in providing the forwards with precise and penetrating service, and in the 20th minute the latter found Bent, who stole in at the back post but saw his toe-poke saved.

Just a minute earlier, Jones was slipped through and bearing down on goal following a pass from Richardson, but his shot was again parried wide by the keeper.

Two further opportunities came in quick succession for Jones in the 25th minute, both of which were headers that drifted over the crossbar, before Bolton finally found a foothold towards the end of the half.

A gilt-edge chance fell to Matt Taylor just after half-time but the midfielder dragged his shot narrowly wide of the far post after latching on to a loose ball.

Further opportunities were at a premium for Bolton, who played with urgency, if not composure in the second half after having been booed off at the break.

The play was increasingly fragmented as the second half wore on, with Richardson and Malbranque both replaced. Fraizer Campbell came off the bench for his Sunderland debut, playing just off Jones and Bent.

The Sunderland pair saw a lot less of the ball as they were deprived of service, with Bent lashing a wild drive over the bar from the edge of the area in the 84th minute.

Just as the drama seemed to have been entirely extinguished, Bolton produced a flurry of late chances to leave Megson with his hands on his head in disbelief and despair.

In stoppage time Jordan Henderson appeared to have controlled the ball with his hand on the edge of the Sunderland penalty area, but no penalty was awarded despite vociferous appeals from the Bolton players.

Moments later, Sean Davis drilled a low drive from inside the box which looked to be heading towards the bottom corner, but for a stunning save from Marton Fulop in the Sunderland goal.

That was the final action as the managers hastily shook hands amid torrential rain in Bolton, with the hosts left frustrated as Bruce and his side celebrated a fine start to their Premier League campaign.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

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  1. well if you count this is my grandas birthday he should­ be 80 today R.I.P, but i think its just them @#$%s and­ there stupid comments........

    From Sean A, on Mon 17 Aug 5:04PM

  2. oh dear Sean you're obviously caught in a­ negativity spiral, is it because mummy and daddy­ didn't show didums enough love? or was it the wrong­ kind of love? has to be something at the bottom of all­ that hatred eh

    From jack torrance, on Mon 17 Aug 2:59PM

  3. piss off you toad
    RED AND WHITE ARMY

    From Sean A, on Mon 17 Aug 2:55PM

  4. Sean you're a p rick mate,you've got nothing­ to say and you're saying it way too often

    From jack torrance, on Mon 17 Aug 1:23PM

  5. as do i about you, i said i wanted to work in africa, i­ did not say i lived in africa you dumbshit.......hhmmm­ mentin some names about who said i was rasict and tell­ me what forum it was?? and ill see for myslef and so­ will others, you will be shown up for the lieing scrote­ you are, i dont look foward to reading your next­ pathetic exuse of a dig at me? scumbag

    From Sean A, on Mon 17 Aug 1:16PM

  6. Well, Calling Russians Nazis, I've seen people­ saying that you support the BNP, And if anyone got into­ an argument with you and told you they were from a­ different culture, you'd come down on them like a­ ton of bricks.
    No I don't think i'm better­ then anyone else, but i'm definitely better than­ you.If there was anyone who thinks their better than­ everyone it is you. You clearly think your better then­ everyone else, Stating that you work in Africa.. Jog­ on, biggest load of shiite I've ever heard. And why­ should grow up and take a look at my life? Your the one­ who can't spell and thinks that life is about­ hurling abuse at good people over an online message­ board. And before you say "taek a luk at urz"­ The only things YOU know about me is, i come from­ Sunderland, Support SAFC and use Yahoo sports, So yeah­ I've taken a look at all YOU know of my life, I­ look forward to reading what shiite you add to the­ list.

    From rhyshall21, on Mon 17 Aug 12:36PM

  7. give over your self you drama queen, when have i been­ rasict??? i dont know myself you b@stard...........just­ a little toe rag that thinks hes better than everyone­ else, grow up and take a look at life you sad, sad girl

    From Sean A, on Mon 17 Aug 12:02PM

  8. Sean, I've seen past comments from you where you­ have been racist about so many countries, then you say­ you live in a continent, the same continent that the­ people who you've hurled unnecessary racial abuse­ at come from.
    Your a disgrace, mate.. a real disgrace.­ And yes, i can handle banter, infact I love it, Your­ comments are in no way banter, they're spiteful­ childish comments, you will obviously say that­ "dey r teh beest comantz in teh planut" but­ no, i've seen loads of your comments that are­ hidden with about 10 thumbs down. Calling me pompous?­ (You can't even spell that by the way.) Your the­ one who hurls abuse at good people 24/7. You have­ better things to do? Like what? Sit hunched over a­ computer all day, in your stained Y-Fronts calling­ people unnecessary things that no one actually finds­ funny? Yeah right.

    From rhyshall21, on Mon 17 Aug 11:57AM

  9. ryshall i tend to work in africa, i have tickets to the­ chelsea match, i have better things to do in life than­ turn up at some doss house, this shows you cant handle­ banter and you are a pompis @#$% for pointing out­ spelling mistakes.

    From Sean A, on Mon 17 Aug 9:38AM

  10. hahahaha yet again the children of the corn is out to­ get me....................

    From Sean A, on Mon 17 Aug 9:28AM

  11. right Cameron read your post on the Mags site,crossed­ wires,thought you were suggesting NUFC had a stronger­ team than us at the mo.Mags looked good at the weekend­ got to admit,but not sure how much of that team will be­ left to contest the season,if mr Ameobie keeps banging­ them in he'll be gone in January.Sean A go have a­ holiday and a long word with yourself mate.These pages­ are about debate and banter not the blind vitriole and­ hatred you are putting out.I know some of the Mags are­ just as bad but let's raise, not lower the bar mate­ eh?p.s before you say anything I've been SAFC for­ 30 years,the only other team I shout for is the­ Gunners,unless they're playing us !!

    From jack torrance, on Mon 17 Aug 9:03AM

  12. "yes" heh heh cameron I admire your­ beligerence and tenacity if not your grasp of the­ current situation.Try not to let Sean A bother you lot­ too much,some supporters still can't get their­ heads around what happened at the end of last season.

    From jack torrance, on Mon 17 Aug 8:02AM

  13. No Englishman, he's not. He's a pillock and a­ disgrace.

    From rhyshall21, on Mon 17 Aug 1:46AM

  14. To all Sunderland supporters, is `Sean A` typical of­ all Sunderland supporters? If he is, then all of you­ must be the lowest scum on the planet.

    From Bobby Robson A Legend, on Mon 17 Aug 1:40AM

  15. On Tuesday evening ofcourse.

    From rhyshall21, on Mon 17 Aug 1:15AM

  16. Okay.. so you are the self-proclaimed­ "pinnacle" of the Mackem race and apparently­ the most intelligent & witty person in the entire­ city, because what I've said is apparently bogus?­ Cba to reply to you anymore, so if you wanna continue­ this argument, I'll meet you at the top of Roker­ Avenue after the match.. I'll hang around there for­ 30mins, if you don't show, I guess your just a­ deluded tramp whos ambition in life is to work in the­ Aldi in Chester-le-street

    From rhyshall21, on Mon 17 Aug 1:15AM

  17. yes because your side of the argument is bogus and your­ poker face shines right threw......so next time lets­ not start a argumant ey?

    From Sean A, on Mon 17 Aug 1:01AM

  18. No Sean, I'm a Sunderland season ticket holder,­ have been for the last 10 years.
    But seeing as you are­ the self-proclaimed "pinnacle" of the Mackem­ race and apparently the most intelligent & witty­ person in the entire city, I cannot possibly win this­ arguement.

    From rhyshall21, on Mon 17 Aug 12:26AM

  19. RYSHALL - another @#$% that no mackem has time for has­ been added to the list
    1.cameron w
    2.john­ connelly
    3.tony k
    4.newcastleian1
    5.kevin­ p
    6.ryshall21
    a bunch of geordie scum bags that said­ that mackems throw coins at away­ supporters............total and utter scum
    ryshall your­ a geordie anyone will tell you that you idiot, another­ armchair supporter.

    From Sean A, on Mon 17 Aug 12:05AM

  20. And I hope the Geordies, know that we're not all­ like that Schmunk and his bunch of Grade-A @#$%'eds­ ;-)

    From rhyshall21, on Sun 16 Aug 11:37PM
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