BOLTON MATCH REPORT
It was a horror show for Sunderland who were thrashed in an embarrassing display at the University of Bolton Stadium.
Bolton scored twice in the first half as they proved too much for Sunderland’s back four, Dion Charles and Aladapo Afolyan both got on the scoresheet. Charles added a third for the hosts early in the second half, Lee made it four and an own goal from Danny Batth made it five, Declan John made it six in a truly shocking display.
Sunderland made one change from the team that beat Portsmouth last weekend. Carl Winchester came in for Tom Flanagan as Lee Johnson reverted to a 4-2-3-1 system.
The opening ten minutes were relatively quiet in terms of chances, but the lads were pressing high and not allowing the hosts to play out from the back.
Bolton took the lead from a long ball over the top, and Thorben Hoffman came charging out but misread it and was easily lobbed by Dion Charles.
The home side had stepped up a gear and should have made it two, Marlon Fossey played a ball back to Kieran Lee who from 10 yards outplayed it over the bar.
Sunderland had grown into the game, but it was Bolton who were having the chances. Sunderland’s final ball just wasn’t there.
Bolton made it 2-0 five minutes before the break, on the break Kieran Lee picked out Oladapo Afolayan, who couldn’t miss.
Sunderland were sinking without a trace, five minutes into the second half and Afolayan picked out his strike partner to hammer it home.
Johnson’s decision to switch it up to four at the back had proved to be a calamitous decision; the two strikers for Bolton were dominant and had so much space.
Bolton were walking through Sunderland, they worked it well and Lee easily beat Hoffman to make it 4-0.
Sunderland had a rare chance, Stewart flicked it onto Jack Clarke but was denied by James Trafford, who saved well.
To add insult to injury, a ball into the box was headed into his own net by Danny Batth. It summed up the day’s performance.
Declan John made it six with a good finish from the edge of the area just to cap off Sunderland’s worst display in League One.
Full Time: Bolton 6-0 Sunderland
ALS Man of the Match: No one
Sunderland: Hoffmann, Winchester, Batth, Doyle, Cirkin (Clarke 53’), Evans, Neil (Pritchard 53’), Dajaku (Roberts 66’), Embleton, Gooch, Stewart
Subs Not Used: Patterson, Flanagan, O'Brien, Hume
