THE Reebok Stadium match programme revealed Steve Caldwell was reading Roald Dahl's classic, Matilda, as part of the Premier League Reading Stars - an initiative which aims to encourage families all over the country to read more books.

Matilda is a gifted and learned child but her self-involved parents treat their extraordinarily perceptive four-year-old child appallingly.

This classic work of literature could easily be an allegorical tale reflecting how the football clubs of this world treat their own supporters.

Defeat at Bolton Wanderers plunged to new depths. Loyalty has certainly been tested on Wearside this season.

If the club was a Black Cat then it would have been put out of its misery a long time ago.

On Saturday, there was an air of resignation in their play against a home side clearly suffering from an FA Cup hangover.

Sunderland fans must fear their hangover will last a lot longer.

Only last week Sunderland claimed to have spent £10m on players this season.

The dozen or so players who arrived at the Stadium of Light since last summer amounted to £4.25m. The missing £5.75m is the amount the club has splashed out on wages.

Last summer the club spent the equivalent of their promotion counterparts Wigan and West Ham, but since the January transfer window opened both clubs have invested considerably to preserve their top flight status; Sunderland brought in Rory Delap on a free transfer.

The Hammers splashed £7m to take Dean Ashton from Norwich City to Upton Park taking their investment up to £11.5m in transfer fees, without taking into account wages.

Similarly, Paul Jewell's Wigan took their spending up to over £8.4m after swooping for Paul Scharner.

Give or take £100,000 here or there, both clubs have now spent sums that nearly double and treble the amount the Black Cats have.

There is no doubt former manager Mick McCarthy took a chance when signing two strikers of unproven Premiership quality but what can you expect for £2.9m?

With more funds McCarthy could have shopped at Harrods rather than the bargain bin at Poundstretcher and they might not be on the verge of claiming a mantle of the Premier League's worst ever side. A title they first won back in 2002.

McCarthy's farcical admission - denied by the club - that they had prepared for a relegation battle only sort to confuse matters further.

But if Sunderland flatter to deceive off the pitch then on Saturday they proved to be wretched on it.

Observers in close proximity to the visitor's dressing room revealed that stand-in boss Kevin Ball was apoplectic immediately after the game. He had every right to be.

"Somebody asked me if I enjoyed it (the game) but no I didn't," admitted Ball. "Some of the performances individually and parts of the performance collectively weren't good enough.

"When we came in at half-time we thought we were doing all right and then we come out in the second half and conceded a goal that could have been prevented and that is frustrating.

"Defenders as a whole have a responsibility but there are other players in other positions who have to fulfill their duties too."

The former Black Cats' skipper was clearly unhappy with the performances of a few individuals. Although he didn't mention any in name he was making a clear reference to a below-par Dean Whitehead, who has been a shadow of his former self for months.

"I told the players in the changing room I wasn't happy," revealed Ball.

"There are some good quality players here but there are other aspects they have to improve on and I've told them in no uncertain terms what they are.

"I was looking for a reaction but we didn't get it enough."

The Black Cats rarely threatened in the first period and a Kyle volley - which went high and wide and ended in the stands after 18 minutes - was the best they could muster following good work from Tommy Miller.

In the second half it didn't get much better, although Miller did make Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen push an effort around the post from just outside of the box.

Bolton hardly flattered in Saturday's encounter against their lowly counterparts but they were clearly suffering from the aftermath of a tiring FA Cup tie at West Ham, which went to extra-time, yet they still won at a canter.

Bolton opened their account when Davies got in front of Danny Collins to power a header past Davis from close range from a Stelios corner two minutes after the break.

The Whites saved their best for last, and a sweeping move involving 12 or so passes, and it culminated with England wannabe Kevin Nolan nonchalantly volleying home with the outside with his right foot after the ball fell kindly in a central position.

Predicting the club's immediate future after it's 24th Premiership defeat of the season is easy enough as relegation beckons.

But whether the club in the long-term is in free-fall is harder to ascertain.

Animal Farm by George Orwell, like Matilda, is another allegorical work and draws parallels with the 1917 Russian Revolution.

And such is the feeling of civil unrest on Wearside among the Sunderland proletariat that further demonstrations will follow in weeks to come.