Fan Report: Sunderland 4-0 Bolton

Extreme weather may have claimed Sunderland’s game with Bolton at the beginning of the New Year, but ironically it was the rearranged fixture two months later that provided Steve Bruce’s side with maximum points in the Premier League for the first time in 2010. The funny old world of football strikes again.

Club owner Ellis Short’s arrival on Wearside added more weight to an already bursting raincloud of pressure, pressure that has been dangling precariously over the Stadium of Light for 108 long dry days. But thankfully the Texas tycoon’s mere presence proved enough of a catalyst to transform a struggling side into goal hungry animals, for an evening at least.

Bearing this in mind surely Bruce and his team have two options, maintain this level of performance until the end of the season, or maybe more realistically, switch all home games to Dallas.

Perhaps 4-0 flattered Sunderland, perhaps Bolton should feel aggrieved but conversely perhaps Alan Hutton, Frasier Campbell and Darren Bent should have converted their first-half opportunities to increase the goal margin further. Perhaps nobody in red and white truly cares.

Sunderland were the last side in the division to record a win this year, but Campbell’s opener after 41 seconds, the fastest top flight strike of the season, eased early fears for players, management and fans alike. The funny old world of football strikes again.

Pre-match Bruce admitted a win was all he craved, regardless of how it arrived. Fortunately the wish was granted as his victory cake arrived in style, with two layers of marzipan for double effect, four goals and a clean sheet.

The psychological boost that derives from reaching a higher set of points cannot be underestimated, thirty points resonates quieter than the panicking twenties of previous weeks. One would assume that Sunderland don’t have long to go to reach safety, just a few more victories should see them okay.

Whilst this statement is correct remember that Ricky Sbragia only notched one win in the remaining ten games, with four points somehow keeping the team in the division last May. If the team could have been summed up in two words for that season, skin and teeth would be most appropriate. So in that respect not much has changed, Bruce and Sunderland are still very much knee deep in the brown stuff.

On paper the result couldn’t have been better timed, difficult home games against in-form teams Man City, Birmingham and Tottenham, plus daunting trips to Anfield, Villa Park and Upton Park could conceivably leave the team winless until mid-April.

Bruce will have a magical safety number lodged in his brain but the team will need to pick up points as soon as possible to avoid a repeat of previous seasons. The  cliché of there being no easy games in the Premier League is utter nonsense, Sunderland have given teams more than enough this season, but the fixture run-in isn’t exactly the kindest.

Credit where credit is due to the management and the team for Tuesday’s result, however if anyone at the club dares to think the end is in sight they should just remind themselves of one home truth, they are the ones responsible for this mess in the first place.

Apart from a certain Mr Bent, of course.

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