For any who never got the chance to watch it... Sunderland haunted Bolton yet again as late goals from Stephane Sessegnon and Nicklas Bendtner earned a deserved first away win of the season. The victory was the Black Cats' fourth in succession against the Trotters and their third in as many visits to the Reebok Stadium under Steve Bruce. It looked like the game might have been heading for a draw until Stephane Sessegnon popped up eight minutes from time to smash home his first goal of the season. And a textbook counter-attack carved out a simple chance for Bendtner to put the game beyond doubt in the third of four minutes of added time. Sunderland boss Bruce will be delighted with his side's showing as they created the better chances in Lancashire with Connor Wickham turning in a superb effort on his full Sunderland debut. Striker Wickham gave the Bolton defence a torrid time alongside Bendtner in a two-man attack and could have had a goal with a little more luck. Bruce's decision to return to a 4-4-2 formation proved to be a good one as his front two played with verve, determination and no little skill against a Bolton side who struggled to gain traction throughout. Indeed it was Sunderland who made the better start despite an early half-chance for Bolton's Martin Petrov. Twice the visitors carved out scoring chances following neat passages of play as Jack Colback fired over before the green-booted Bendtner forced Jussi Jaaskelainen into a smart low save with a shot on the turn. At the other end, Darren Pratley could have perhaps have done better when he swept David Ngog's 13th-minute cross wide of Simon Mignolet's post when unmarked in the middle 14 yards from goal. But, after a busy start, both teams appeared to cancel each other out with chances few and far between at either end. However, Sunderland could have taken the lead nine minutes before half time as Sessegnon, deployed on the right wing, popped up at a well-executed set piece. Michael Turner flicked Seb Larsson's corner over the pack to the back post, and the little winger controlled the loose ball well but could only scythe a hurried shot over the bar with defenders closing him down. And another Larsson delivery - this time from a free kick - was headed narrowly past the post by John O'Shea with a number of the Sunderland fans behind the goal thinking the ball had actually entered the net. But the teams went in level at half time and Mignolet had to be alert to make a good save down low after Petrov's shot took a nick off the covering Michael Turner. Sunderland were soon back on the attack, though, as Sessegnon wriggled into a crossing position and fed Kieran Richardson, whose initial shot was blocked before David Wheater somehow got his body in the way as the left back smashed the loose ball towards goal. It was brave defending by the former Middlesbrough defender, who managed to deflect the ball behind for a corner from inside his own six-yard box. Meanwhile former Burnley man Chris Eagles volleyed high and wide from a cross by sub Ricardo Gardner, making his 250th Barclays Premier League appearance for the hosts. Having made a double change in the hope of injecting a spark into the game, Bolton enjoyed a purple patch but couldn't threaten the Sunderland goal barring a speculative effort from Eagles which Mignolet gathered easily. It was still Sunderland creating the chances as a quickly-taken free kick by Larsson set Sessegnon away and Jaaskelainen reacted well at his near post to tip the effort behind. And from the resulting corner the impressive Wickham cut in front of two Bolton defenders to volley powerfully off-target. Now Sunderland were on the front foot and David Vaughan was denied a goal only by a deft clearing header by Paul Robinson as his curling shot from the edge of the box arrowed towards the top corner. Then Larsson robbed the dawdling Gardner and fed Wickham, whose cross-shot dipped and bounced off the top of Jaaskelainen's crossbar with the Bolton keeper stranded. That effort looked like summing up Sunderland's afternoon, but the visitors finally broke through with eight minutes to play to send the travelling hordes wild. Another Larsson corner was headed up in the air by Robinson, Wes Brown managed to nudge the ball back across the box and there was Sessegnon to turn on a sixpence and gleefully crack the ball home. The goal was the little winger's first of the season - and what a crucial one it was for Sunderland. But at the other end Mignolet made a key save to deny Darren Pratley two minutes from time after Turner's attempted clearance kindly broke to the midfielder. Then O'Shea just managed to glance Gael Kakuta's cross clear as Ngog steamed in at the far post with the goal at his mercy. But Sunderland weathered the storm and the points were safe when Bendtner notched his second goal in red and white in stoppage time. With Bolton pushing, Larsson's clever pass set Sunderland away on a five-on-four break spearheaded by Sessegnon. The winger drew his man before slipping the ball left for Bendtner, who was left with an easy finish under Jaaskelainen to wrap up a richly-deserved victory. Sunderland: Mignolet, O'Shea (C), Richardson (Bardsley, 86), Turner, Brown, Larsson, Sessegnon, Colback, Vaughan, Bendtner, Wickham. Subs: Cattermole, Gardner, Dong-won, Meyler, Elmohamady, Westwood. Booked: Turner (12), Sessegnon (19), Colback (67)
So 4-4-2 and Sess on the wing and you win? Ooh, what a huge surprise that is. Now sack the manager and you should be a-okay.
From what I saw our "2 big centre forwards" held the ball up extremely well today. I am more impressed with Bendy every game I see him play, he rarely gives the ball away cheaply. Nice to see the young Wickham get a full game, I think he struggled to make effective use of the ball but started to pick up late in the 2nd half. He still has a lot to learn, but I believe playing alongside Bendy for the next 4 or 5 games will do him the world of good. Sess looked class again and they struggled to contain him, so many quick turns on the ball opened up their half of the pitch on numerous occasions. It looked like we were knocking on the door but nobody was home, had 0-0 all over it until a quality finish by Sess with his back to goal. His ball for Bendy's goal was inch perfect too. A good save from Mig you might say preserved the 3 pts, so a better performance by him on the whole. All in the nick of time for Bruce ........... the chop avoided for at least another 3 games I would say. Bring on the Villa ( and that Judas !!)
BCG - not having a pop at our c/f's - more at the rest of the team's probable desire to lump it up. Bendtner is (for me) as good as Quinn. Useful feet; good in the air. Whickham - excellent. x
