Bolton Wanderers 0 Sunderland 0

BACK in late November a drubbing at the hands of Bolton brought an end to the Roy Keane era at the Stadium of Light. Six months later and the same opposition marked the start of another new chapter in the history of Sunderland Football Club.

After being invited into the dressing room before the match by manager Ricky Sbragia, chairman Niall Quinn stressed the importance of getting over the finishing line quickly before the club can announce that Ellis Short, the club’s American backer, is ready to become the majority shareholder.

And with the promise of further cash investment on the transfer front if Premier League status can be secured, Quinn’s speech sparked a performance that edged Sunderland a step closer to securing their top-flight status once more.

A goalless draw may not sound the most impressive of results but, after two soporific displays that heralded defeats to Everton and West Brom, the point earned at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday has put Sbragia in sight of achieving his primary aim – survival.

While there was not even a save for Bolton’s goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to make, the warm embrace between the manager and Quinn in the tunnel after the final whistle highlighted just how highly the pair value this precious point.

There are now five points separating Sunderland from the relegation zone ahead of tonight’s mouthwatering Tyne- Tees derby, where a draw would leave Sunderland in with a real chance of knowing they are safe before the trip to Portsmouth a week tonight.

The likelihood is that before the season reaches a close on May 24 there will be confirmation Short has agreed to take over majority ownership from the Drumaville consortium – and there is already work behind the scenes to strengthen the playing squad.

Despite growing suggestions that Sbragia would not be manager next season, the Scot has been a key mover in scouring the market for possible new signings, with a buy British policy in his thinking.

“If you stay up you are good enough for the Premier League,” said Sbragia. “The qualities are there but maybe they sometimes lack a bit of belief.

It happens.

“We are a Premier League club and I believe we will stay in the Premier League. In the summer we will change the squad slightly.

It won’t be drastic, it j u s t n e e d s t w e a k i n g here and there and we will see how it goes.”

With just three wins from his 17 matches in charge since taking over on a full-time basis in late-December, there is clearly much work to be done to ensure Sunderland are not involved in another relegation tussle if they do stay up.

And one of the biggest problems they have faced since the turn of the year has been a distinct lack of goals, something which almost proved to be to their downfall again at Bolton.

With Kenwyne Jones asked to play as the lone striker before he was replaced by Djibril Cisse after suffering an ankle knock, Kieran Richardson was the man asked to provide attacking back-up.

Richardson, whose selection through the middle strangely meant that Grant Leadbitter was asked to play on the left of a five-man midfield, was guilty of wasting three first half chances that would have meant a dreadful Bolton would have been playing catch-up.

The worst of those arrived when Danny Collins and Steed Malbranque combined before centring to Jones, who laid off to Richardson. The £5.5m man somehow, though, shot over when he should have at least tested Jaaskelainen.

While disappointed with failing to capitalise on such chances, Sbragia was satisfied with a point from a game they could a c t u a l l y have lost had it not been for a stunning Marton Fulop save in injury-time.

“We were difficult to beat and in the first half we passed it around and maybe surprised Bolton,” he said. “We needed a cutting edge and we didn’t have that. We created chances when previously we have not done that.

“The last fortnight has been very hard. We need to get results and get them quickly. I think we have had nine games when we have had a chance to get out of this situation and not done it. That has been disappointing.

The players showed what they are capable of.”

Given how only Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hull have scored fewer than Bolton on home soil, goals were never likely to be in huge supply.

But Gary Megson, the Bolton boss unpopular with his own supporters, was understandably amazed that his team had not sneaked a winner before the end.

Midfielder Mark Davies had already volleyed over from 12 yards two minutes before time when Fulop somehow dived to his right and palmed away a 93rd minute header from Gary Cahill that was destined for the far corner.

A point, h o w e v e r, was secure and everyone on Wearside will be hoping for a similar result tonight, which would leave their North-East rivals with a four-point deficit to Sunderland with two games remaining.

“It is not a case of not bearing to watch it, I just won’t watch it,” said Sbragia. “I have got other things to do other than think about football. We can only do what we do and I am not that concerned about Boro or Newcastle. It is up to them to worry now.

“I will be out Monday in the pub, which doesn’t have a TV. I was the last time for Newcastle v Portsmouth, having a few beers with my friends. I got a text telling me the last Newcastle game was 0- 0 so I had another pint.”