Played
October 22, 2011 10:00 AM EDT
Reebok Stadium — Bolton
Referee: M. Jones
Attendance: 24349
October 22, 2011 10:00 AM EDT
Reebok Stadium — Bolton
Referee: M. Jones
Attendance: 24349
Top of the Match
Stéphane Sessegnon
Sunderland
Sunderland
Nicklas Bendtner
Sunderland
Sunderland
Flop of the Match
Gäel Kakuta
Bolton
Bolton
Chris Eagles
Bolton
Bolton
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Bolton Wanderers 0-2 Sunderland: Sessegnon and Bendtner net priceless late goals to ease pressure on Steve Bruce
Two goals in final 10 minutes lift Black Cats to 12th
By Joe Wright
Getty Images
Two late goals from Stephane Sessegnon and Niklas Bentdner gave Sunderland three crucial points in a 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers, alleviating the pressure on manager Steve Bruce.
The visitors had the lion’s share of the play in a scrappy game at the Reebok, and looked to be taking just a point back to the north east despite creating a host of chances.
But two goals in the final 12 minutes from Sessegnon and former Arsenal man Bentdner gave the Black Cats a deserved victory. And helped Bruce finally get his team on track.
Sunderland arrived at the Reebok in desperate need of a win after a string of bad results left it with just six points from its opening eight matches.
The home side, meanwhile, weas buoyed by last week’s derby victory over Wigan, and was hoping to secure back-to-back victories and claw its way out of the bottom three.
Chances were few and far between in the first half, with neither side able to find a breakthrough in a scrappy encounter in Lancashire.
The pattern of play continued for much of the second, with the visitors unable to find a way through the Bolton rearguard while the homeside struggled to create chances of its own.
Sunderland always looked the more likely, however, and was rewarded for its efforts in the 82nd minute, when Stephane Sessegnon turned home a Sebastien Larsson corner.
Owen Coyle’s men pressed for the equalizer but never looked likely to earn anything from the game, and when Sessegnon played in Bendtner in stoppage time, the points were sealed for Bruce’s side.
The visitors had the lion’s share of the play in a scrappy game at the Reebok, and looked to be taking just a point back to the north east despite creating a host of chances.
But two goals in the final 12 minutes from Sessegnon and former Arsenal man Bentdner gave the Black Cats a deserved victory. And helped Bruce finally get his team on track.
Sunderland arrived at the Reebok in desperate need of a win after a string of bad results left it with just six points from its opening eight matches.
The home side, meanwhile, weas buoyed by last week’s derby victory over Wigan, and was hoping to secure back-to-back victories and claw its way out of the bottom three.
Chances were few and far between in the first half, with neither side able to find a breakthrough in a scrappy encounter in Lancashire.
The pattern of play continued for much of the second, with the visitors unable to find a way through the Bolton rearguard while the homeside struggled to create chances of its own.
Sunderland always looked the more likely, however, and was rewarded for its efforts in the 82nd minute, when Stephane Sessegnon turned home a Sebastien Larsson corner.
Owen Coyle’s men pressed for the equalizer but never looked likely to earn anything from the game, and when Sessegnon played in Bendtner in stoppage time, the points were sealed for Bruce’s side.
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Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robin van Persie Striker Man United |
26 | 3 |
|
Luis Suárez Striker Liverpool |
23 | 0 |
|
Gareth Bale Midfielder Tottenham |
21 | 0 |
|
C. Benteke Striker Aston Villa |
19 | 3 |
|
Michu Midfielder Swansea City |
19 | 0 |
