SAMMY Ameobi sent Wanderers into the third round of the FA Cup with a special strike and roared: I want Sunderland!

Newcastle born and bred, the winger produced a moment of pure magic to put Phil Parkinson’s side 2-0 up less than a minute into the second half.

By his own admission, the winger had not been firing on all cylinders in the first 45 minutes but a brilliant effort from the edge of the box lit the touch paper on a classic cup tie after the interval – setting up a shot at the big guns in round three.

For Ameobi, who is on loan from St James’ Park, there was only one opponent he wants to see in this evening’s draw.

“Anyone but Newcastle, please,” he said, knowing cup rules would preclude him from playing against his parent club. “I’d take Sunderland. They’d be perfect. I’d take that.

“I’d like to get a home fixture for the fans. Bolton have done so well in the FA Cup in the past it would be great to go on another run.

“Whoever we get won’t fancy playing us. We can keep up this momentum and take it into the third round.”

After David Wheater had a goal wrongly disallowed in the first half, Gary Madine edged the Whites ahead with his first goal since August.

Ameobi made it two but Paul Coutts’ deflected shot dragged the Blades back into it.

Josh Vela then thought he had put the game to bed with another fine finish but Jack O’Connell’s late header set up a nervous finale.

“We worked really hard for this win,” Ameobi said. “It’s all about the team at the moment.

“You can see it every day in training, we work on the shape of the team, make sure we defend well. And we had to right there.

“We have got a lot of quality in this squad and it shows when you get a tight game like this.

“The gaffer has been absolutely brilliant. We’re gelling on and off the field and that goes on to the pitch. Long may it continue.”

Alan Knill, the Blades assistant, believes his side should have earned at least a replay and says both they and Wanderers will be there at the business end of League One in May.

“This was two really good sides,” said the former Bury boss. “You ask Phil (Parkinson) the same question and the league is the priority but a cup run would have given you that extra bit of finance to strengthen in January.

“On the balance I thought we were the better team but you can’t concede three and expect to win.”

“I think both sides will be up there. If you ask anyone else in this league they would mention us, Scunthorpe and Bradford.

“When you look at Bolton’s squad it’s very strong and they have got a good manager too.”