SUNDERLAND won their first home game of the year to ease mounting relegation fears at a wind-swept Stadium of Light.

But the Wearsiders had to thank Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen for two important first-half saves before Republic of Ireland midfielder Jason McAteer snatched the match-winning goal just before half-time. The Danish international came to the rescue right at the end with a full-length diving save to prevent Bolton snatching an dramatic late equaliser.

The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of a very poor Bolton side entrenched in a relegation dog-fight. But they staged a late rally in a bid to extend a three-game unbeaten run in a disappointing game in which chances, particularly in the second half, were at a premium.

But it provided a crucial win for Peter Reid's men - their first home win since the defeat of Everton on December 22 - who had taken only five points from their previous nine League games.

There was a surprising amount of surface water on the pitch, even though it had not rained on Wearside for about four days - obviously the sprinklers had been in operation.

Sunderland almost started in sensational style when Cameroon striker Patrick Mboma put a glancing header just wide after Michael Gray had swung in a curling centre from the right in the opening minute.

But the Wearsiders should have gone ahead in the seventh minute when Darren Williams put over a pin-point centre and Phillips ghosted in to smash a right-foot volley high and wide from the edge of the six-yard box - a bad miss.

The home side had the ball in the net in the 12th minute, but only after McAteer had bundled Jussi Jaaskelainen over the line after the keeper went up to deal with a dipping centre from Phillips, and referee Graham Poll blew immediately for a foul.

The crowd was getting behind Sunderland and there was a close call for Bolton when Mboma pushed a good ball through to McAteer, but his attempt at a shot from 15 yards was blocked by the alert Gudni Bergsson.

Sunderland were being helped by some inaccurate passing by Wanderers, who were not putting very much together after crossing the halfway line.

Schwarz was booked in the 21st minute for a foul on Paul Warhurst 25 yards out and Michael Ricketts drove a powerful left-foot shot high over the bar.

Bolton made another advance soon afterwards, but a 22-yard shot from Ricardo Gardner was watched all the way by Thomas Sorensen as it travelled a couple of feet wide of the post.

A swirling wind was gathering strength when Bolton went close in the 28th minute as French international Youri Djorkaeff had a 20-yard shot parried by Sorensen, who managed to deflect the follow-up from Ricketts just wide.

Sunderland had to thank Sorensen for a great save in the 32nd minute when he turned a vicious right-foot angled shot from Rod Wallace, 12 yards out, behind for a Bolton corner.

But Sunderland also went close in the next minute as the hard-working McAteer found himself with a clear shot at goal after cutting inside Mike Whitlow, but his low left-foot drive was saved at the second attempt by the keeper.

Ricketts lost his temper and pushed Craddock after being brought down by Gray, earning a yellow card and then Sorensen was spoken to for showing dissent after a corner was given when Djorkaeff put his low free-kick wide.

But Sunderland took the lead in the 42nd minute through McAteer after unselfish work by Phillips.

The England striker cleverly took the ball inside a defender, but instead of trying a shot himself rolled the ball to McAteer, who clinically drove his low right-foot shot into the corner of the net from 15 yards.

Bolton brought on Anthony Barness in place of the injured defender Whitlow after half-time and an offside flag against Phillips eased early pressure.

It was still a very scrappy game - not helped by the wind - but there were too many bad passes interrupting the flow of play to make the game much of a spectacle.

But there was a flash of aggression in the 55th minute when Tofting drove a 20-yard right-foot shot just wide - and Sunderland went straight upfield for McAteer to scrape the bar with an angled right-foot shot.

Bolton, without an away win since mid-November, were not posing much threat at all and the crowd was voicing its disappointment that Sunderland were not pressing home their advantage.

Mboma in particular was having a very quiet game after a bright, promising start, but had not received an abundance of support.

Bolton made their third substitution in the 68th minute when Mario Espartero replaced Warhurst as manager Sam Allerdyce tried to salvage a point.

But Sunderland came close to a second goal in the 70th minute when Northern Ireland international George McCartney finished a great run up the left with a powerful right foot shot from the edge of the box which sailed just over the Wanderers crossbar.

There was a threat on the Sunderland goal in the 78th minute when Wallace put a dipping header just over the bar from 16 yards after a right wing centre from Nicky Southall.

The home fans - relieved at the result - thought that Sunderland had claimed a second goal in the 89th minute, but the offside flag was up against Phillips as he headed home from close range.

Bolton, refusing to throw in the towel, were denied an equaliser in stoppage time by Sorensen, who saved brilliantly from Bergsson.

Read more about Sunderland FC here.