SUNDERLAND CLAIMED their first win in four games thanks to two late strikes, condemning Bolton to an eighth defeat in the process.
Stephane Sessegnon got the ball rolling with eight minutes left on the clock before Nicklas Bendtner got the second for the Black Cats deep into injury-time.
Steve Bruce made two changes bringing in strikers Connor Wickham and Bendtner. Phil Bardsley started on the bench following suspension.
John O`Shea had Sunderland`s most mentionable first-half chance when he nodded wide from a free-kick.
Half-time: 0-0
Kieran Richardson came close shortly after half time when he slammed goalwards from Sessegnon`s centre, but twice Bolton blocked.
Sessegnon asked questions of Jussi Jaaskelainen not long after when he saw a lot effort blocked at the near-post by the Finn.
As the Black Cats turned up the pressure, Wickham and David Vaughan were both denied by resolute defending from the home side.
Having seen sub Ricardo Gardner`s clearance closed down Wickham looped a cross-cum-shot against the bar from an acute angle.
Eventually the visitor`s pressure told when Sessegnon was allowed to turn and lash home the opener after Bolton failed to clear from a corner.
Deep in stoppage time Bendtner wrapped up the points for Steve Bruce`s men Sessegnon threaded the big Dane in to finish coolly one-on-one.
Full-time: 0-2
Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; Boyata (Gardner), Cahill, Wheather, Robinson; Eagles, Pratley, Reo-Coker, Petrov (Kakuta); K.Davies (c) (Klasnic) & N`Gog.
Subs not used: Bodan (GK); M.Davies, Knight & Tuncay.
Sunderland: Mignolet; O`Shea, Brown, Turner, Richardson (Bardsley); Larsson, Colback, Vaughan, Sessegnon; Bendtner & Wickham.
Subs not used: Westwood (GK); Cattermole, Gardner, Meyler, Elmohammady & Ji.
Attendance: 20 349
Referee: Mr Jones.
