WANDERERS (4-2-3-1).

JOEL DIXON…6.5.

Set the nerves jangling early on with a heavy touch from Ricardo Santos’s pass but recovered quickly and will be pleased enough with a solid display.

GETHIN JONES…7.

Never stopped motoring down the right, putting pressure on the Sunderland box with a few very good deliveries. Cirkin was always a danger going in the opposite direction, though.

RICARDO SANTOS…7.

Slowish start but eventually got on top of the Sunderland attack, making his physicality work. Inexplicably booked for being fouled at one stage.

GEORGE JOHNSTON…7.5.

Best performance in a Bolton shirt so far for the former Liverpool man. Like Santos, had a tough opening 20 minutes but threw himself at everything thereafter.

LIAM GORDON…5.5.

Nervousness set in early on when playing from the back, especially with Winchester around – but giving Gordon credit, he had stabilised well before being replaced by Declan John.

MJ WILLIAMS…7.

Under the radar, perhaps, but Williams seemed to be first to every loose pass and first to close down in the second half.

JOSH SHEEHAN…6.

Came into the game after half time as Sunderland conceded territory. Never quite on the same wavelength, which has been a rarity this season.

LLOYD ISGROVE…6.5.

Took a bad knock on the head in the second half, which was a shame as he and Jones had been working well down the right. Will be a big miss in the next 10 days.

ANTONI SARCEVIC…6.

Like Sheehan, his best work came later in the game, including a couple of delightful passes from deep. Ran hard for the cause, as ever.

DAPO AFOLAYAN…7.

Not his most influential afternoon but continues to look the Bolton Wanderers player most likely to make something happen.

EOIN DOYLE…6.

Eight shots at goal and God knows how much running to close down Sunderland’s defenders – normally a great day’s work, but he will know there should have been a goal, too.

Subs: Kachunga 61 (for Isgrove), John 72 (for Gordon), Lee 85 (for Sheehan).

Not used: Gilks, Delfouneso, Thomason, Baptiste.

Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Hoffmann; Winchester, Flanagan, Doyle, Cirkin; O’Nien, Neil; Pritchard, Embleton, McGeady; Stewart.

Subs: Dajaku 65 (for Pritchard), Evans 66 (for Embleton), Huggins 66 (for Cirkin), Wright 88 (for Doyle).

Not used: Burge, Alves, Broadhead.

Referee: Sam Purkiss – 5/10. Fussy is probably the best way to describe it. Didn’t seem to crack down on some of the physical stuff dished out by both sides – but stopped the game every 60 seconds in the second half for what felt minor issues.

Attendance: 32,368 (2,000).