Cats’ defence stands firm to secure crucial victory
SUNDERLAND 1 BOLTON 0
Sunderland survived intense second-half pressure to earn three crucial points against an impressive Bolton side at the Stadium of Light.
Carl Win chester’ s early goal gave the Black Cats a valuable lead and though they missed some good openings, much of the second half was spent with the visitors testing the home defence.
After conceding late last weekend, Sunderland were this time able to see the game out, surviving seven minutes of added time to earn three crucial points.
Sunderland started brightly, pressing with aggression and testing a Bolton side trying to play out from the back.
With Lyn den Goo ch absent due to injury, Alex Pritchard came into the side and there was a noticeable fluidity to the front four as they searched for an opening. They looked the more likely, but an injury to Bolton goalkeeper Joel Dixon forced along delay and allowed the visitors sometime to settle.
The game took some time to get back to its initial speed, but a superb opening half was sparked into life by an excellent Sunderland move.
Dennis Cirkin made an overlapping run and was found by an excellent through ball from a central position. His low cross was good and Winchester was there at the back post to thump his effort into the roof of the net.
If it looked as if that could be the moment that would allow Johnson’s side to kick on and take control, it proved to be anything but.
Johnson had been brave in his approach, leaving his full backs high up the pitch and encouraging his side to press relentlessly. It forced openings, but also left a good side side space on the counter.
Bolton served notice of their threat when Eoin Doyle fired wide at the near post following a good cross from the right and Thorben Hoffmann
had to be at his best moments later to preserve the lead.
O lad a po Afo lay an had been quiet until now and his tame effort looked to be offering little threat until a late touch from Tom Flanagan caused the German goalkeeper a problem. He did well to make the stop, and then responded superbly to quickly haul himself up to make the block from the follow up.
The Black Cats continued to try and press with intent, Pr it chard twice finding himself in decent space on the edge of the box before being unable to test to Dixon with his efforts.
Bolton’ s threat was persistent, a well-worked short cornerpresenting an opportunity for Anton iS arcevi ca she broke
across the front of the post. The ball bounced nicely for him, but his effort was sliced and well over the bar.
Sunderland were wobbling a touch, but responded strongly will a good spell before the break that almost yielded a second. Good combination play from Dan Neil and Elliot Embleton released Ross Stewart in the box, but his effort was tame and gathered easily enough from Dixon.
Bolton started the second half in control of possession, but found themselves opened up by a stunning Sunderland counter two minutes later.
Aiden McGeady made a good run into the channel and from four yards out Pritchard looked certain to score, but
Dixon did superbly to make the block.
It was a golden opportunity for the hosts, with Bolton still seeing plenty of the ball and causing problems.
Ian E vat t’ s side created their best chance yet when Winchester did well to track back and challenge Al ofoy an. He was unfortunate that the loose ball found Josh Sheehan, whose excellent cross was headed towards goal by Doyle. H off mann did well, getting up to claw the ball over the bar.
Johnson was sufficiently concerned, making a triple substitution. One of those was enforced, the excellent Cirkin forced off after a head injury.
An open game continued to swing from end to end, Bolton breaking dangerously after a promising Sunderland attack. Afolayan’s cross deflected just wide of the far post and moments later Doyle headed wide with the goal gaping.
An even greater opportunity presented itself shortly afterwards, George Johnston making a good run to the back post but somehow volleying wide of the far post.
Sunderland finally began to get out of their own half, Winchester and Stewart seeing efforts blocked as an excellent contest continued.
Bolton pressed for an equaliser, going close when substitute Niall Huggins sliced his clearance under pressure. Doyle looked likely to score, but a combination of Call um Doyle and Hoffmann did well to shut the opening down.
Seven minutes of stoppage time raised the pressure inside the Stadium of Light, but to their credit it was a period Sunderland managed well as they secured the points. Sunderland: Hoffmann; Winchester, Flanagan, Doyle (Wright, 87), Cirkin (Huggins, 65); Neil, O’Nien; Embleton (Evans, 65), Pritchard (Dajaku, 65), McGeady; Stewart. Subs not used: Burge, Evans, Alves, Broadhead.
Bolton: Dixon; Jones, Santos, Johnston, Gordon (John, 71); Williams, Sheehan (Lee, 85); Isgrove (Kachunga, 60), Sarcevic, Afolayan; Doyle. Subs not used: Gilks, Delfouneso, Thomason, Baptiste.
Attendance: 32,368