Latest News: 24 October, 2011
Next article Wickham: The lads were excellent
Connor Wickham felt a win 'had been coming' for Sunderland as he reflected on his first start for the club.
Connor Wickham moved quickly to turn the spotlight onto his team-mates after impressing in the victory over Bolton.
The 18-year-old summer signing made his first Barclays Premier League start at the Reebok and put in an impressive performance as Sunderland ran out 2-0 winners.
Stephane Sessegnon and Nicklas Bendtner got the goals but it was Wickham, the reigning Football League Young Player of the Year, who grabbed the attention.
But, speaking after the game, he preferred to focus on the contributions of the other ten Sunderland players on the pitch as the visitors banked three valuable points.
"Going to Bolton is never easy but we worked our socks off and got the win we deserved," he said.
"I think that win had been coming and fortunately we got it.
"I was happy with my own contribution but I can't say that just myself in particular played well. All the boys were excellent and that showed on the pitch."
Wickham almost bagged a goal of his own when, with Sunderland dominating, he rattled Jussi Jaaskelainen's crossbar when attempting to find strike partner Bendtner in the box.
And he admitted feeling a sense of relief when second-half pressure eventually told as first Sessegnon and then Bendtner found a way through.
"I saw Nick in the middle when I had the ball out wide and tried to pick him out, but it bobbled in front of me," Wickham explained.
"If it went in then fair enough but unfortunately it bounced off the bar.
"The first half was tough but we worked really hard and we knew a goal was coming when we were pushing hard in the last half an hour.
"We were in their half for a lot of the time so it was a relief when Stephane eventually scored.
"I was stood where he eventually ended up and then moved away into the middle, which was disappointing!
"But Sess was there at the back post and it was a great finish to get us started."
Wickham continued: "Then we went through four-on-two so if we hadn't scored we would have been pretty annoyed with ourselves.
"It was a good finish from Nick and hopefully we can take this into the Villa game now."
The Black Cats return to Wearside this weekend for a clash with Aston Villa with Wickham hoping his performance at Bolton is enough to see him continue in the side.
The youngster has waited patiently for his chance but insists he relishes the level of competition up front.
"Of course it's been difficult; I want to play football but there's lots of competition and that's good for me," he said.
"Nick, Sess and Ji [Dong-won] are all doing well so I will have to keep pushing myself.
"But I've got my first start now and hopefully I've done enough to show the manager what I can do.
"He asked me to go out and work my socks off and I tried to do that."
Next article Wickham: The lads were excellent
Connor Wickham felt a win 'had been coming' for Sunderland as he reflected on his first start for the club.
Connor Wickham moved quickly to turn the spotlight onto his team-mates after impressing in the victory over Bolton.
The 18-year-old summer signing made his first Barclays Premier League start at the Reebok and put in an impressive performance as Sunderland ran out 2-0 winners.
Stephane Sessegnon and Nicklas Bendtner got the goals but it was Wickham, the reigning Football League Young Player of the Year, who grabbed the attention.
But, speaking after the game, he preferred to focus on the contributions of the other ten Sunderland players on the pitch as the visitors banked three valuable points.
"Going to Bolton is never easy but we worked our socks off and got the win we deserved," he said.
"I think that win had been coming and fortunately we got it.
"I was happy with my own contribution but I can't say that just myself in particular played well. All the boys were excellent and that showed on the pitch."
Wickham almost bagged a goal of his own when, with Sunderland dominating, he rattled Jussi Jaaskelainen's crossbar when attempting to find strike partner Bendtner in the box.
And he admitted feeling a sense of relief when second-half pressure eventually told as first Sessegnon and then Bendtner found a way through.
"I saw Nick in the middle when I had the ball out wide and tried to pick him out, but it bobbled in front of me," Wickham explained.
"If it went in then fair enough but unfortunately it bounced off the bar.
"The first half was tough but we worked really hard and we knew a goal was coming when we were pushing hard in the last half an hour.
"We were in their half for a lot of the time so it was a relief when Stephane eventually scored.
"I was stood where he eventually ended up and then moved away into the middle, which was disappointing!
"But Sess was there at the back post and it was a great finish to get us started."
Wickham continued: "Then we went through four-on-two so if we hadn't scored we would have been pretty annoyed with ourselves.
"It was a good finish from Nick and hopefully we can take this into the Villa game now."
The Black Cats return to Wearside this weekend for a clash with Aston Villa with Wickham hoping his performance at Bolton is enough to see him continue in the side.
The youngster has waited patiently for his chance but insists he relishes the level of competition up front.
"Of course it's been difficult; I want to play football but there's lots of competition and that's good for me," he said.
"Nick, Sess and Ji [Dong-won] are all doing well so I will have to keep pushing myself.
"But I've got my first start now and hopefully I've done enough to show the manager what I can do.
"He asked me to go out and work my socks off and I tried to do that."
