SIX APPEAL ‘Sorry’ Johnson in plea to supporters
By at the University of Bolton Stadium
JOHN RICHARDSON
SUNDERLAND boss Lee Johnson had to contend with Storm Bolton, which blew his anaemic side away and left his future on a knife edge.
Around 6,000 Black Cats fans had made the trip from Wearside and by the end most had left unable to stomach any more of an afternoon of abject embarrassment.
Those who remained let Johnson’s sorry men know how they felt, yelling they weren’t fit to wear the shirt.
He admitted: “This is the worst feeling I have had in football in a career of 20-odd years. I have to give an apology that is genuinely sincere.
I don’t think the players gave up but we looked disjointed, we looked disorganised.
“I have got to take responsibility for this game. I don’t really want to because it hurts. I still believe in myself.”
In contrast, Ian Evatt’s side are revitalised following a January transfer window makeover and a third successive win – and the biggest ever at this stadium – has seen them surge up the table.
He said: “A lot of people who watch us regularly would have clearance from keeper James Trafford, which saw Dion Charles off in pursuit before lobbing over keeper RonThorben Hoffmann.
Lee’s neat lay-off saw Oladapo Afolayan steer been saying this has in from close range. been coming.” It went from bad to
After Kieran Lee’s worse for the visitors in 59th-minute strike to the second half, Charles make it 4-0, a flare was acrobatically making it thrown from the 3-0 and Afolayan Sunderland end, which heading back to Lee to temporarily halted the steer in number four. game. With five minutes to
Route-one football go central defender had opened the Danny Batth headed Sunderland door with a into his own net and 19th-minute lofted Declan John made it six.
BOLTON: Trafford 7; Jones 7, Almeida-Santos 7, Johnston 7; Fossey 7, Williams 7, Morley 7, John 7; Lee 8 (Sadlier 71, 6); Charles 8 (Bakayoko 71, 6), Afolayan 8 (Bodvarsson 71, 6). Subs not used: Dixon, Aimson, Thomason, Baptiste.
SUNDERLAND: Hoffmann 6; Winchester 5, Batth 5, Doyle 5, Cirkin 5 (Pritchard 53, 6); Evans 5, Neil 6 (Clarke 53, 6); Dajaku 5 (Roberts 66, 6), Embleton 6, Gooch 5; Stewart 5. Subs not used: Patterson, Flanagan, O’Brien, Hume.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Dion Charles. Ran Sunderland ragged and even at £300,000 looks a steal at this level.
Stephen Martin 7.