A first half Danny Welbeck header was enough to split the two in form teams of the Premiership this season as Sunderland and Bolton clashed on Wearside. The SOL was bitterly cold for the early kick off of the weekend and to be honest the football on offer did little to warm the crowd but Welbeck's header moves the lads up to sixth in the table and sets up a charge for a top half finish in 2011.

Despite going off injured last week against Fulham Anton Ferdinand recovered from a hamstring strain which meant Steve Bruce made only one change to his side with Craig Gordon returning in place of Simon Mignolet.

The first twenty minutes of the game was fairly timid but worryingly for Sunderland John Mensah again went off injured and was replaced by Elmo. The big Ghanaian was left in crumpled heap after a strong challenge and though he tried to battle on there was no way he could continue and had to be replaced. It’s a real concern considering how immense the defender had been in the games he’s played not forgetting we’re already struggling in defence with the absence of Turner and Bramble.

Our best effort of the half had came from Darren Bent who curled a shot over the bar with his left foot from ten yards before he later tested Jaaskelainen from close range. However with thirty minutes played we took the lead through Danny Welbeck.

The striker come winger managed to head the ball in from close range after good work from Gyan o the left wing caused problems in the Bolton six yard box. After the goal Gary Cahill clattered Darren Bent with a shocking tackle earning a yellow card before Lee Cattermole was scandalously booked for a challenge on Stuart Holden when in fact it looked like Cattermole had been fouled. Before the break Craig Gordon made a great save from Zat Knight turning the defenders strike over the bar.

Even though Sky Sports keep telling us that Owen Coyle has transformed Bolton into the Barcelona of Lancashire there was little evidence of this today. The second half saw them quickly revert to type and throw long balls forward to Kevin Davies and Elmander whilst left back Paul Robinson hacked away at every opportunity.

Anton Ferdinand did well to block a volley from Davies which set up a Sunderland counter attack though we failed to capitalise. Darren Bent had a poor touch though the ball eventually y fell to Gyan who stroked the ball wide.

With twenty minutes to go Bolo Zenden who had been requested to dance from the fans in the South West Corner replaced Asamoah Gyan. The Dutchman showed his class when he left two defenders for dead from a throw in but his right footed effort lacked power as did a header he had moments later.

As fulltime approached Sunderland did concede territory and invite Bolton forward but we defended the long balls well with Ferdinand proving more than a match for Davies and producing a couple of terrific blocks. Bolton had a half chance when Klasnic shot from close range but his effort was well over.

Final Score: 1-0

ALS Man of the Match: Anton Ferdinand

Aidan Crowe

ALS T Shirts click here