Sunderland advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday overcoming a robust Bolton Wanderers side at a freezing SOL. Second half goals from strike duo Kenwyne Jones and Djbril Cisse proved enough to see the lads into the hat for Sunday’s draw.

It was one of those funny coincidences that seem to happen so often in football that within 24 hours of being beaten 4-1 by Bolton in the Premier League we were drawn against them in the FA Cup back in November.

After last Saturday’s defeat at Goodison Ricky Sbragia made four changes with Bardsley, Malbranque, Murphy and Tainio all out of the side. I’d guess three were rested and one dropped for being crap but I’ll let you work out who that applies to. They were replaced by Chimbonda, Diouf, Whitehead and Edwards.

The amount of empty seats in the SOL despite a cut price ticket promotion on offer until Friday evening showed just how much the appeal of the FA Cup has dwindled. It’s a sad state of affairs that the cup we won heroically in 73 is now considered second to maintaining Premiership status in the eyes of many fans. I know it will never happen but I think the only way to rekindle the fortunes of the competition would be to offer a Champions League place for the winner. If that was the case there is no doubt all of the Premier League clubs would take the competition more seriously as oppose to seeing it head the same way as the league cup. Rant over.

The opening half was very poor from both sides and chances were few and far between. It was scrappy from both sides with no quality on display until the half hour when Richardson found space in the midfield to cross for Diouf. The Senegal striker’s header was straight down the throat of Jaaskelainen and Diouf was also offside.

Djbril Cisse went closest to scoring in the first half when his pace took him past O Brien and into the box but his effort rolled agonisingly past the post. That was as good as it got in the first half which to be kind was abysmal.

The lads started the second half better and started to cause problems for Bolton down both flanks. Edwards found space on a few occasions on the right but wasted possession with poor crosses whilst on the left Bolton resorted to hacking down Richardson and Diouf.

Sunderland almost took the lead when Jones rose highest at a corner, but his header was cleared off the line. There was no such fortune for Bolton moments later however when Jones did get on the score sheet. Diouf had won a free kick on the left hand side with a great bit of skill. Richardson fired over a great cross which Jones powered home. The players all ran to the touch line and celebrated with another crazy dance.

Ten minutes later Sunderland doubled the lead after good work from Edwards down the right hand side. He crossed for Cisse to volley home spectacularly from about ten yards. We were on top for the next ten minutes but as Bolton did for the majority of the second half they continued to hack down our players but on one occasion the ref decided Whitehead had dived and booked him. Richardson was next to be targeted and worryingly he stayed down after a heavy challenge and was subsequently taken off for Tainio.

Bolton got back in the game with ten minutes to go when Smolarek fluked a shot over Fulop from just inside the area. The lads had a couple of chances late on to extend their lead but failed to do so with Diouf and Cisse missing chances.

Final Score: Sunderland 2 Bolton 1

ALS Man of the Match: Kieran Richardson

Aidan Crowe

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