Premier League - Bolton thump woeful Sunderland

Eurosport - Sun, 30 Nov 07:48:00 2008

Sunderland slipped into the Premier League relegation zone as they were humbled 4-1 by Bolton Wanderers at the Stadium of Light.

FOOTBALL 2008/09 Premier League Bolton's Matthew Taylor, Kevin Nolan and Gavin McCann celebrate victory over Middlesbrough. - 0

Djibril Cisse's opener was quickly cancelled out as Bolton tore through a dire home defence with a goal each from Matt Taylor and Gary Cahill and two from Johan Elmander.

In a manic opening 20 minutes to Roy Keane's 100th game in charge, the Black Cats found themselves a goal up against the run of play and then, just as quickly, one behind.

Sunderland started poorly, but with their first move of any quality Cisse broke the offside trap and slotted home - Steed Malbranque slipping a ball in behind Andy O'Brien following neat interplay between the Frenchman and Kieran Richardson. Ahead and looking in control, the North-East side conspired to throw it away.

First, Gretar Steinsson was allowed to collect his own throw - following a poor Phil Bardsley clearance - and deliver for Taylor to out jump Pascal Chimbonda and loop a header past Craig Gordon.

Then, moments later Richardson gave away a needless free-kick that earned him a yellow and Bolton the lead. Gavin McCann hoisted it high into the box and Danny Collins could only clear as far as Cahill on the edge; the centre-back firing home a powerful low volley.

The afternoon was to get a whole lot worse for Collins on 39 minutes. A Bolton punt, and not even a hopeful one at that, hung in the air long enough for Collins to completely misjudge it and Elmander to pounce, the Swede scurrying past Collins into the box and, from a tight angle, striking through the legs of Gordon.

If the home support were expecting a barnstorming second half fight back they were sorely mistaken as Bolton started the half far brighter and fully deserved their fourth even if it was slightly fortuitous.

Yet again the home side were the architects of their own downfall. Kevin Nolan caught Sunderland captain Dean Whitehead overplaying in midfield and committed Bardsley before squaring to Elmander for the Swede's second and Bolton's fourth after only the 55th minute.

Although the score line suggests otherwise, Sunderland were not completely outplayed and twice had the ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen - only for the assistant referee's flag to cut the celebrations short. Cisse's first half effort was ruled out for a Kenwyne Jones foul in the build up, and then Jones himself was adjudged to be in a offside position having slotted past the Finn.

Sunderland were, however, in defensive disarray throughout and many will question the wisdom of their best defender, Anton Ferdinand, spending the match on he bench.

Credit to Sunderland, they never gave up and chased a consolation right to the end of the match - Chimbonda, Cisse and Jones all going close, but in truth it was Bolton who continued to look the more likely to score.

Elmander should have had a hat-trick, first rounding Gordon to lift the ball high and wide, before exchanging passes with Kevin Davies and slotting the ball the wrong side of Sunderland's post.

Marcus Foley / Eurosport

Comment 27 - 46 of 46

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  1. the tactics are completely wrong. the players are there­ but there is no one getting to the byline,all crosses­ coming in from 40 yards out.
    the goalkeeper is­ hopeless.
    3 shots 3 goals first half then he fell over­ and nearly gifted them another.
    twice beaten on hid­ near post,slicing kicks.
    he is not worth 9p never mind­ 9 million. the defence have no confidence in him,
    there­ are other problems,whitehead is not good enough and all­ the play goes through him. he is never sustituted yet­ reid and malbranque continually are,yet continue to­ impress. jones is not as good as we thought. he has­ lead weights in his boots this yera.

    From geordieprince1, on Sun 30 Nov 7:19PM

  2. Could Keane be another Keegan?..

    From Clint.Magnum, on Sun 30 Nov 3:32PM

  3. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh­ hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh­ hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh­ hhhhhhhh!

    From Nathan, on Sun 30 Nov 12:15PM

  4. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    From Nathan, on Sun 30 Nov 11:16AM

  5. keane was always going to walk when things get tough­ ,look at eire 2002 and when he delibertly critisised­ man utd players so he could get a big pay day and all­ the publicity it ensues ,listen keane was always a thug­ who got lucky ,he couldnd trap a ball or give a decent­ pass but managed through the help of his friends in the­ media to potray this mythical figure of unequal­ leadership

    From Gráça, on Sun 30 Nov 11:01AM

  6. WE ARE THE ONE AND ONLY WANDERERS, WE ARE THE ONE AND­ ONLY WANDERERS!

    From Si, on Sun 30 Nov 10:32AM

  7. Dennis Wise . . .legend

    From jack torrance, on Sun 30 Nov 9:39AM

  8. I think his reluctance to sign a new contract speaks­ volumes. Maybe he realises he`s out of his­ depth.....
    Come back Chopra all is forgiven....

    From Rob, on Sun 30 Nov 8:33AM

  9. I bet Allen H is a bitter scouser

    From dellautoservices, on Sun 30 Nov 7:44AM

  10. Jesus, have a bit of faith people. Its thanks to Roy­ that Sunderland are even in the premiership, if he­ didnt join they could be in League 1 at this tage.

    From FergusO, on Sun 30 Nov 1:23AM

  11. What planet has G.scott001 been on to say Keane has­ crapplayers and no money. These are the same players­ Keane brought with the vast sums of money that Keane­ wasted it on. 5 million for Richardson, 5 million for­ Chopra to give just two examples. At the end of the­ day you get what you buy and Keane has wasted the money­ on poor signings. Personally I would hate to see­ Sunderland go down but as long as they have that­ scumbag Keane as their manager they deserve to go down­ every season until he quits soccer for good. Once a­ thug always a thug and his tactics are woefully short­ of premier league standard.

    From Allen H, on Sat 29 Nov 11:00PM

  12. altai211, it's sickening to see the way you keep­ refering to Keane as an 'Irish muppet'. If you­ don't like the man fair enough but what's with­ the racist comment? I'm Irish and find this highly­ offensive. It's rasict scum like you who give­ English football fans their bad name.

    From kelo2017, on Sat 29 Nov 10:52PM

  13. KEANO'S DOIN THE BEST HE CAN WITH A TEAM OF @#$%­ & NO MONEY!!BESIDES,HE'S JUST WAITING FOR­ FERGIE TO DIE SO HE CAN JUMP INTO HIS SHOES.DO­ SUNDERLAND FANS THINK A MANAGER OF KEANO'S­ POTENTIAL WILL STAY IF A BIGGER CLUB(THATS MOST OF THE­ PREMIERSHIP)COME IN FOR HIM???

    From ., on Sat 29 Nov 10:25PM

  14. All you so-called supporters pulling the team and Keane­ to bits. Why don't you have a bit of faith and­ commitment and get behind the team, Keane will get it­ right come the end of the season, you will be in the­ championship. ha ha

    From umboko, on Sat 29 Nov 8:41PM

  15. Failure

    From dannymcg005, on Sat 29 Nov 8:40PM

  16. nothing to do with keane the players are just not good­ enough for the premiership

    From fed up britain, on Sat 29 Nov 8:30PM

  17. ALTAI221..You muppet...typical geordie think back to­ where you were before keano came...bottom of­ championship and headin for the chop.

    a couple of­ seasons on back in the top flight due to keano and you­ cant even see whay he is doin consolidating the club.­ Lets face it what 20 million plus player is going to­ want to join sunderland NONE.

    It took fergie and all­ the other clubs with normal cash flow years to become­ sucessful. So get behind the team and stopp moaning and­ whineing like a spoil brat!!

    From banburysons, on Sat 29 Nov 8:25PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    roy keane has not got a clue nosworthy chimbonda­ whitehead miller please let them leave aswell as keane­ load of @#$%

    From bri, on Sat 29 Nov 8:22PM

  19. just hang on till next may before you muppets start­ criticising the manager or
    any of the squad get behind­ the team think where you were two seasons ago you­ can
    do it ROY

    From tommywhelehan, on Sat 29 Nov 8:17PM

  20. Bottom line is keane tranfer targets did not want to­ come to sunderland .Steve ireland and kevin doyle are­ examples.
    Sunderland is a small club and no player­ worth his salt wants to live there.
    The players keane­ brought in are the only players dumb enough to go­ there.
    Fergie would let him have evans .ferdinand was­ the only center half will ing to go there.
    If I was­ keane I would leave that ungrateful bunch of useless­ nobodies in sunderland.
    Yes I mean the fans.
    Leave­ keano and let them off to the third division which is­ where they were heading before you rescued yesman­ quinn..

    From , on Sat 29 Nov 8:15PM
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