Wanderers 0 Sunderland 1

WANDERERS made the worst possible start to the new Premier League season as they went down at home to Sunderland.

Darren Bent grabbed the only goal of the game after just five minutes to give manager Steve Bruce his first win in charge of the Black Cats.

Gary Megson included four of his new signings – Zat Knight, Paul Robinson, Sam Ricketts and Sean Davies – in his starting line-up, while Lee Chung-Yong came off the bench.

But they failed to make an impression as Bolton were dreadful for the opening 45 minutes after Bent rose above Kevin Davies to head home Steed Malbranque’s cross.

Despite being way off their best, Wanderers would have still taken something from the contest but for two wonderful saves from Martin Fulop at the end of either half.

First the Sunderland goalkeeper produced a marvellous reflex stop to keep out Gary Cahill’s header on the stroke of half time before blocking Davis shot with his legs in the fourth minute of injury time.

But that could not detract from a hugely disappointing Bolton display as the visitors claimed their first victory at the Reebok in almost eight years.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Knight, Elmander (Ward 83), Robinson, Cahill, Muamba, McCann (Lee 68), Taylor, Ricketts, Davis, K Davies. Subs not used: Al Habsi, Cohen, O’Brien, M Davies, Samuel.

Booked: Muamba, Davis.

Sunderland: Fulop, Cana, McCartney, Cattermole, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Collins, Richardson (Campbell 76), Jones, Malbranque (Henderson 46), Bent. Subs not used: Gordon, Edwards, Healy, Leadbitter.

Booked: Campbell.

Referee: Andre Mariner.