Sunderland got back to winning ways edging past Bolton Wanderers 1 – 0 in a hard fought victory at the SOL on Saturday. A first half goal from Carl Winchester was enough to separate the sides who played out an entertaining game with the result keeping Sunderland's promotion hopes on track.
Lee Johnson made two changes to the side that threw away a two goal lead to draw with Fleetwood last Saturday. After serving a one game suspension for picking up five yellow cards Tom Flanagan returned in place of Bailey Wright whilst Lynden Gooch was dropped for Alex Pritchard.
There was a minute’s applause in respect of Len Ashurst who sadly passed away recently before the lads got the game underway kicking towards the Roker End. We had an early chance when Cirkin found Stewart in the box but he was denied by the keeper. A minute later Pritchard almost capitalised on a poor touch by the Bolton keeper but the keeper redeemed himself with a decent tackle.
There was then a lengthy break as the keeper received treatment but he was able to continue. Bolton created a chance around the 15 minute mark when they broke down the right and Isgrove crossed but Doyle couldn’t get on the end of it. A minute later Doyle caused more problems down the right but his cross was turned behind by Cirkin for a corner. The corner was swung in dangerously but the lads were awarded a free kick for handball.
The lads took the lead inside 20 minutes with a well worked move which Carl Winchester finished off. Aiden McGeady slid the ball down the left hand flank for Dennis Cirkin who did well to out pace and out muscle the Bolton defender. Cirkin then fed a low cross through the six yard to Winchester at the back post who slammed the ball into the roof of the net.
It was by no means certainly one way traffic and Bolton continued to look a threat and fashioned another chance down the right which Doyle stabbed wide outstretched. The visitors went close again when Afolayan’s shot took a deflection but Hoffman did well to parry it before making another stop from the rebound. Ten before the break a well worked set piece from Bolton almost caught Sunderland napping when Sarcevic was found unmarked in the box but he skied his shot over the bar.
Five minutes before half time the lads went close again after neat skill from Embleton set Cirkin away down the left hand side of the box. He got another decent cross into the box but Stewart’s effort was saved. There was five minutes added time at the end of the first half after the injury stoppage early in the game. In this added time Pritchard was denied by when he had a shot block and O’Nien picked up a yellow card.
Neither side made any change at the break and Sunderland had a great chance early in the second half to double their lead but the keeper denied Pritchard. It was another good passage of play from the lads with Winchester picking out McGeady in the box who squared the ball to Pritchard in the box who saw his shot parried by the keeper.
Ten minutes into the second half Sunderland went close again after Stewart picked out Winchester on the right hand side. Winchester drove into the box hitting a low shot across goal just the wrong side of the post. With half an hour remaining there was an awful clash of heads when Cirkin and Isgrove challenged for a header. Fortunately they both seemed ok with Cirkin continuing although Isgrove was replaced by Kachunga.
Bolton then went close after they were awarded a free kick on the left hand side after a foul by Flanagan. The free kick was curled dangerously into the box but fortunately no one got on the end of it. Two minutes later Bolton almost equalised but Hoffman produced a superb save to tip Doyle's header over the bar.
Lee Johnson then made a triple change with Evans, Huggins and Dajuka replacing Embleton, Cirkin and Pritchard.
With twenty minutes left on the clock Bolton should have equalised when Sunderland only half cleared a corner. The ball was swung back into the box from the left hand side towards Doyle who found space unmarked in the box but he glanced a header wide when it looked easier to score. Ten minutes later they went even closer after a sustained spell of pressure.
Sunderland had dropped deeper and were inviting pressure allowing Kachunga space on the right to cross. He delivered a great ball to the back post which Johnston ran onto at the back post but his volley rippled the side netting.
Five minutes later a mistake from Huggins miskicking a clearance presented the visitors with another chance to equalise. Fortunately Sunderland scrambled the ball clear before Bailey Wright replaced Callum Doyle who worryingly appeared injured.
As in the first half there was loads of injury time after the clash of heads with seven minutes signalled by the fourth official. In the first of these tempers flared after O’Nien was hauled down clutching his face with the referee booking the defender.
The game got stretched and the lads had an opportunity to seal the victory when the nicked possession and broke with Neil playing Dajuka in down the right but he overplayed the ball and lost possession. Dajuka was then guilty of wasting another chance to score after Dan Neil did well dribbling into the box before picking out the German on the edge of the box but he blazed over.
Despite a nervy few final moments the lads held on for the victory with a good three points from probably the best side we’ve faced so far at home this season.
Final Score: Sunderland 1 Bolton Wanderers 0
ALS Man of the Match: Carl Winchester
