RELIEVED Sunderland manager Peter Reid admitted last night: "Everyone knows the result was all-important."

The Wearside boss was concerned that his side missed chances before a match-winner from midfielder Jason McAteer against his old club.

"You are always a bit anxious as a manager when you miss chances and Bolton also had one or two chances," said Reid.

"So it was a massive bonus to get that goal - it was a terrific goal after a good build-up.

"But the result was the most important thing and we are just happy to get the three points.

"It's a great result for us but there is still a long, long way to go yet and we need to get as many wins as we can to get us up the table."

Reid continued: "Goals have been at a premium for us - Kevin Phillips is a top class striker but things just haven't been going for him. But I'm sure that sooner or later he will start sticking them in."

The Sunderland manager pointed out that he was without six or seven first team players and paid tribute to the men who had come in for a crucial match.

He said: "This is a difficult League and it is difficult to win football matches. But in this game the result was the most important thing.

"If we had played hopeless and won 1-0 I would have been happy - at the moment I would take points before performances.

"I like to entertain but when you get down to the nitty gritty the results are the most important things at the moment."

Reid praised McAteer for his "energy and drive" and is only sorry that the Republic of Ireland international will be suspended for the next game, at Chelsea, a week on Saturday.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce felt that his side had done enough to deserve a share of the spoils, but paid the price for missing chances and now face a difficult fight against relegation.

He said: "I think we deserved to get something out of it - we had enough chances and unfortunately we haven't taken them.

"Sunderland managed to get one through Jason McAteer and it was a good goal. At this level when you get chances you have to put them into the back of the net."

l France international Lilian Laslandes reckons joining Sunderland was a big mistake.

The 30-year-old is now on loan to Bundesliga strugglers Cologne for the rest of the season after a disappointing six-month spell with the Wearsiders, following his £3.6m move from Bordeaux.

Laslandes said: ''I am still wondering why I left Les Girondins and why I agreed to join Sunderland for three years.''

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