Sport

Sordell pulls Bolton clear as Sunderland falter

Sunderland 0 Bolton 2: Marvin Sordell struck a second-half double as Championship side Bolton booked a fourth-round clash against…

Wed Jan 16 2013 - 00:00

Sunderland 0 Bolton 2:Marvin Sordell struck a second-half double as Championship side Bolton booked a fourth-round clash against Everton after stunning Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Sordell slid home a 64th-minute penalty and wrapped up victory nine minutes later as Dougie Freedman’s men made sure of victory 10 days after blowing a two-goal lead in their Reebok Stadium clash.

Martin O’Neill had made his intentions clear by naming a strong side for the replay in contrast to Freedman, whose own slender play-off aspirations prompted him to make six changes from the weekend draw with Millwall.

With Bolton offering very little in the way of threat in the first half, Sunderland had a smattering of chances.

READ MORE

Adam Johnson came close to breaking the deadlock five minutes from the break when Andrew Lonergan tipped his low drive round the post, and from the corner Titus Bramble dragged a great chance wide.

Until that point Sunderland had looked entirely dominant with Bolton failing to muster anything of note in the home side’s half.

But it was the home fans who were left unhappy as Bolton seized the initiative. Sordell and Chris Eagles both had half-chances before Bolton’s opener arrived courtesy of a careless challenge by Jack Colback on Darren Pratley just inside the box, allowing Sordell to convert from the penalty spot.

The visitors increased their lead 10 minutes later when Eagles threaded a fine ball to Tyrone Mears, who squared for Sordell to force his second under Mignolet.

Despite substitute Sebastian Larsson coming close with a free-kick, there seldom seemed much danger of Bolton squandering a two-goal lead, as they cruised into round four.

SUNDERLAND: Mignolet, Bardsley, Kilgallon, Bramble, Gardner, Colback (Cattermole, 76 ), Vaughan, Johnson (Larsson 71), McClean, Sessegnon, Wickham (Campbell 71). Subs not used: Westwood, Cattermole, Larsson, Campbell, McFadden, Saha.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Lonergan, Mears, Alonso, Knight, Ricketts, Eagles, Spearing, Pratley, Vela (Holden 74), Afobe (Lee 70), Sordell (K Davies 85). Subs not used: Bogdan, Ream, Holden, Lee, Ngog, K Davies, Odelusi. Goals: Sordell 64 (penalty), 73.

Referee: K Friend.