In front of the Reebok's smallest crowd of the season, Bolton came out full of gusto and produced some superb football as they had a virtual Sunderland first team on the back foot throughout the first half and for quite large chunks of the second period.

Wanderers took a deserved lead after seventeen minutes when Michael Ricketts, one of only three genuine first team players in the starting eleven, headed home a first class corner from the impressive former non-leaguer Jeff Smith.

By half time Bolton could've been several goals up in all honesty, Ricketts and Facey wasting good chances, with the latter hitting the crossbar on his full debut.

The crowd expected much more of the same for the second half but Sunderland came out much more determined and created virtually more chances than Bolton although the Wanderers looked very comfortable and still created numerous chances.

However, Bolton's confidence started to drift more and more into complacency which led to Sunderland creating more chances and the Black Cats eventually got their reward when Kevin Phillips nodded the ball past Kevin Poole in the Wanderers goal.

Sunderland could've snatched a win after their goal although it was Bolton who finished the strongest after the introduction of first teamers Jay Jay Okocha, Kevin Nolan and Mike Whitlow. Nigerian magician Okocha brought a higher level of skill and ability to the inexperienced Bolton side and thus created a few chances and put pressure on to Jurgen Macho's goal.

In the end, a draw was really a fair result although both managers won't be too happy about having to play another game, the replay at the Stadium of Light on January 14th.

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