Sunderland 2, Bolton 1
On target again
By The Black Cats
January 5 2009
Sunderland have reached the 4th round of the FA Cup for the first time in 3 years after beating Gary Megson's Bolton Wanderers by 2 goals to 1 at the Sunderland Stadium of Light on a freezing Saturday afternoon on Wearside. Ricky Sbragia made four changes to the side that lost 3-0 at Everton a week earlier, bringing in El-Hadji Diouf, Dean Whitehead, Anton Ferdinand and Carlos Edwards.
The pick of the changes being El-Hadji Diouf who was outstanding throughout the game, I've been saying all season that if we play him he'll cause problems for the opposition, and he proved me right with this performance.
Sunderland looked the better team throughout the match, although
there were some heart in mouth moments for Black Cats' fans after some
less than competent defending.
The first half was pretty non descript with few chances for either team, but whatever the Manager's said at half time stirred the teams and the second half was a cracker.
The Black Cats on SportNetwork.Net Man of the Match went to Kieran Richardson who was just awesome both going forward and defending.
Richardson, created the Jones goal, came close to scoring himself and made 2 or 3 game saving tackles before being helped off the pitch injured after a poor challenge from Bolton skipper Kevin Nolan.
When asked about the injury Sunderland Boss Sbragia said, "Kieran is OK. He got a knock on the ankle but I don't think it is too serious."
Thank god for that!
Goals from strikers Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cissé in the second half put the Black Cats in the driving seat in an all-Premier League third-round tie.
But Ebi Smolarek ensured a nervous finish for the home fans when he scored a fortuitous goal late on, his crossbenig deflected and catching the otherwise solid Marton Fulop in no mans land, looping over his head into the top corner.
Jones put Sunderland in front in the 57th minute when he headed in Kieran Richardson's cross to grab his sixth goal of the season.
The Trinidad striker had already twice been denied by goal-line clearances from Ricardo Gardner either side of the interval.
Kenwyne Jones is definitely a man who plays on confidence, after scoring he looked like a different player, chasing down defenders, challenging for every ball and even tracking back right into his own 6 yard box.
Carlos Edwards went close to making it 2-0 soon after, hitting the bar with a long-range effort as the home side enjoyed a purple patch after going ahead.
Cissé did make it 2-0 in the 66th minute, crashing a volley past Jussi Jaaskelainen after Edwards had got to the by-line and crossed. Sparking off 'that celebration' once again.
Sunderland looked to be cruising until 11 minutes from time when Smolarek's deflected effort looped over Fulop and dropped into the top corner. The Black Cats rarely do things the easy way!
There was little between the sides in the first half and it was the kind of game where the first goal would be decisive.
Sunderland got it and went on to gain revenge for Bolton's 4-1 victory here in November, the last match of Roy Keane's reign.
The Wearsiders go into the fourth-round draw as Sbragia enjoyed a third win in six games since replacing Keane in the manager's chair.
We will face either Blackburn Rovers or Blyth Spartans - who play tonight in Blyth - at the Sunderland Stadium of Light on the 25th/25th of January.
Kieran was just awesome, glad his injury isn't a bad one!
We'd be screwed if we lost him.
And on a plus, Cissé says he wants to stay with us at the end of the season!
Ha'way the Lads! >
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