Bolton 2, Sunderland 0

May 5 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

THE end of a difficult and gruelling season is in sight for the players, but for many so too is the end of their Sunderland careers, writes LUKE EDWARDS.

Having kept the Black Cats in the Premier League the reward will be thanks, a pat on the back and a P45. For some, after this performance against Bolton Wanderers, the P45 might accompanied by a boot from manager Roy Keane to hasten their exit.

Sunderland do not intend to stand still and Keane will never be satisfied with mediocrity. Changes were always going to be made, but perhaps we under-estimated how sweeping they could be.

Having encouraged and cajoled his players through an arduous campaign, Keane has clearly had enough of certain members of his squad. Having praised them last weekend when they secured their top-flight status with a 3-2 win over Middlesbrough, Keane was brutal in his assessment of their ability after this defeat.

Short on quality, short on ability and, most damning of all for their manager, short on commitment and desire.

Perhaps some believed that after safety comes celebration, but Keane had warned them not to take things lightly, that pride and points meant as much to him this week as they did against Boro seven days earlier.

Ominously an apparently jovial Keane had said on Friday morning he would punish anyone who played against Bolton as if their bags were packed for their holidays.

Sadly, Sunderland’s players did not heed the warning, they made the mistake of taking their manager’s words lightly and some will be told their services are no longer required on Wearside.

If only they had realised the magnitude of the occasion, if only they had known that this could be their last appearance in a red-and-white shirt, Bolton could have been heading to Chelsea next weekend with the worry of relegation still on their minds. Instead, they will travel to Stamford Bridge safe in the knowledge others will drop out of the Premier League because Sunderland turned up at the Reebok and went through the motions.

Sunderland were awful, careless and care-free. Bolton were little better, but they at least had some drive and purpose. They also had El Hadji Diouf.

The Senegal international is a pantomime villain of a footballer – he is even affectionately booed by his own supporters – with a rap sheet as long as a wayward rock star. But he is also a half decent footballer who, on his day, is one of the league’s most exciting.

In a poor game, he was about the only player who made the entrance fee reasonable and it was fitting he should score the goal which shoved Bolton towards safety.

Left unmarked, Diouf collected Kevin Nolan’s cross, controlled it and then placed a clever shot into the opposite corner of the goal.

It was the one moment of quality. Sunderland did test Bolton goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi once, when Kenwyne Jones cut inside and held off Gretar Steinsson, but the only other time the Oman international had anything to do was when Michael Chopra fouled him before knocking the ball into an empty net.

Craig Gordon had little more to occupy him than pick the ball out of his net after Diouf’s first-half strike, but Bolton’s football at least had a semblance of energy, the Trotters roared on by a home crowd who sensed the visitors were willing lambs to the slaughter.

Keane was a regular visitor to his technical area to berate players for a loose pass or half-hearted challenge, but even a half-time rollicking could not spark the Wearsiders into life.

Jones had one chance but he missed Daryl Murphy’s knock-down in the six-yard box, but the fact Keane had already made a triple substitution – Michael Chopra, Liam Miller and Nyron Nosworthy hauled off – spoke volumes.

Inevitably, Bolton made sure of the points. Diouf had already hit the post with a header, but the second goal came with nine minutes remaining when Murphy – a week after his late winner kept the Wearsiders in the Premier League – glanced the ball into his own net with Andy Reid behind the line instead of on it when he attempted to clear.

An instantly-forgettable game at the end of a largely memorable season for most of the club’s supporters, but it would take a brave man to suggest that to Keane today.