Bolton Wanderers 0 – 1 Sunderland – 15th August – Bent on form for Bruce

Record signing Darren Bent proved to be the difference on Steve Bruce’s first game as Sunderland manager.

Bent, who cost £10m from Spurs this summer, opened the scoring in only the 5^th minute and should really have had a few more as Sunderland dominated the encounter. Gary Megson will be unhappy with his sides performance as Sunderland contained any Bolton attacking threat with relative ease; indeed a fantastic save by Fulop which denied Gary Cahill was the closest Bolton came to equalizing.

Even though they did start to press in the second half there was little evidence to show that Bolton will be among the league’s top scorers this season.

Steve Bruce spent some £25m during the summer transfer window and Bent looks to be a shrewd piece of business for the former Wigan boss as the Sunderland fans go into this season with high expectations.