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 7 - 26 of 46

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  1. altia211,
    there's a lot of truth in what u say.­ When i first heard of Keane for manager i thought if he­ brings half the passion he had as a player to­ management He will do well.
    But as he just stands arms­ folded watching a team play @#$%e and do nothing to­ rectify
    it (except change it again next match) as he­ just try's to show how diplomatic he can be and how­ mature and calm he has
    become is a total waste of­ time!!!!

    From The Blake, on Sat 29 Nov 8:03PM

  2. How many more losses before Keane looses his managerial­ job at sunderland?

    From Jonathan Jo, on Sat 29 Nov 7:53PM

  3. The difference is jack tornonce, i accept we are in a­ relegation scrap and i accept we are poor. If people­ can't take criticism then they shouldn't be so­ quick to criticise others, i refer jack torrnonce to­ his pathetic comments made yesterday regarding­ Newcastle being in the bottom-3; that is why i still­ ask the question: which North East team is currently­ occupying a relegation place?
    Keano is a legend..

    From cameron w, on Sat 29 Nov 7:53PM

  4. Like i said last week - Keane has to go! He is avoid of­ tactics,team selection and gives his team no­ encouragement from the touch line, he just stands there­ like a muppet, he can not hack it in the big time. He­ bought the players in but the whole team looks­ lopsided,disjointed and no confidence which is brought­ about by his continuous changing of the team. Why oh­ why did he have to change the defence against Bolton,­ this changing about all the time is not going to­ instill confidence into an already poor team, where is­ his assistant manager or has he not got one if he has­ should he not be up on the touch line shouting out­ orders etc if Keane is not going to do it.
    Come on­ keane do us all a favour and jump ship lets get some­ experienced manager in with a bit fight in himrather­ than the irish muppet.

    From John, on Sat 29 Nov 7:34PM

  5. Sunderland arent very keane to win anything ahahahahah!

    From glenn, on Sat 29 Nov 7:30PM

  6. £80million spent by Keane and what have you got? A­ championship side and a massive overdraft.
    Could be­ following Leeds and co?Perhaps!!!!!!!!

    From RICHARD W, on Sat 29 Nov 7:30PM

  7. he belongs back in the championship all that money and­ whats he brought quantity not quality...

    Bad manager­ sunderland cant compete they hardly ever win or play­ well...

    Bye bye down you go...

    From glenn, on Sat 29 Nov 7:26PM

  8. and the odds on Keano taking his dogs for another walk­ this week are?

    From taz, on Sat 29 Nov 7:24PM

  9. lool

    From ali k, on Sat 29 Nov 7:16PM

  10. COME ON BOLTON

    From wl31256, on Sat 29 Nov 7:10PM

  11. Cameron . . we are on the same points you deluded­ muppet.If we are in a relegation fight then so are you,­ do the maths.I'm sick of validating your pathetic­ existence, your beneath me, let's move on.

    From jack torrance, on Sat 29 Nov 7:09PM

  12. What Sunderland do not want now is for nasty Roy to do­ a Keegan. I am betting he will,

    From taff, on Sat 29 Nov 7:05PM

  13. just remember wat keano did wit them in the­ championship brought them from the relegation zone to­ wat was it 1st or 2nd hmm think about that and take it­ into consideration before criticising him

    From , on Sat 29 Nov 6:51PM

  14. Cameron W,
    Sitting on the same points as us and only­ ahead on goal difference!!????? Why does it not get any­ better????? Personaly i think keane is on his way out,­ he's not getting what he wants out of his players­ and it could be only a mater of time before he spits­ his dummy out and walks. I would love for him to prove­ me wrong though!
    FTM!!!!

    From The Blake, on Sat 29 Nov 6:40PM

  15. America????? Shut up i there isnt one descent yank­ playing in the premiership!! If there's one thing­ yanks ARE good at its sticking there noses in places­ they dont belong. sacrificing young men for oil­ disgusting.......

    From John, on Sat 29 Nov 6:25PM

  16. all keanos men he got them in to sunderland and he can­ take them with him load of s--t the lot of them just­ think he may be the manager of man u one day soon ha ha­ ha ha ha ha ha ha

    From fatlad_homer, on Sat 29 Nov 6:24PM

  17. 4-1 away from home -come on u white men.think its time­ all the critics gave gary megson a chance.and such­ attractive passing football from the long ball team

    From woody9712000, on Sat 29 Nov 6:21PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    America has the best skilled footballers in the world.­ Go USA. Go Lance.

    From Mark S, on Sat 29 Nov 6:00PM

  19. Men of Reebok cease your weeping, teams out there are­ ripe for beating.
    Up the table we are creeping,­ Superwhiiites score four...

    From sue h, on Sat 29 Nov 5:56PM

  20. Well done Bolton and well done Megson. Elmander has­ three in his last two games now and it was good to see­ two other English players on the score sheet (Cahill­ and Matty Taylor)

    Keep up this work ethic and we­ should be safe for another season!

    20 points and half­ way to another year in the league.

    Cant think who we­ need to buy in January as we have not played Riga or­ the other Polish striker who is on loan at the­ moment.

    Harsanyi is banging them in for the reserves­ too.

    Well done Bolton, true fighters who never get­ the credit the deserve.

    7 English players on the pitch­ for us today and English an manager!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    2­ english subs too

    From Colly, on Sat 29 Nov 5:54PM
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