By PAUL FRASER

SUNDERLAND'S second victory of the season was sealed courtesy of an instinctive opening goal from Stephane Sessegnon seven minutes from time at the Reebok Stadium this afternoon.

After a dreadful first half in which neither goalkeeper was seriously tested, Sunderland claimed all three points to climb away from the relegation zone after  an extremely positive second half display.

Sessegnon, Kieran Richardson, David Vaughan and Connor Wickham, making his first start for the club since his £8.1m switch from Ipswich in August, all had decent chances to win it before the goal arrived.

But in the end, when it looked as if Sunderland would come up short in the penalty area once more, the elusive opening goal arrived with time running out.

Seb Larsson's corner was not dealt with by the Bolton defence. Sessegnon had already had one attempt blocked before he turned and fired low beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen.

And then when the clock was almost up, Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner raced through to side-foot underneath Jaaskelainen after Sessegonon's clever run and pass picked him out.

Bolton could have few complaints about the way in which they lost this one, with Sunderland fully deserving of a victory which was much-needed before dates with Aston Villa and Manchester United.

There was a late save from goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who denied Darren Pratley with his legs, but an equaliser would have been harsh on the players and the near 4,500 away fans that had made the trip across the Pennines. 

BOLTON WANDERERS (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen; Boyata (Gardner 54), Cahill, Wheater, Robinson; Eagles, Pratley, Reo-Coker, Petrov (Kakuta 66); Ngog, K Davies (Klasnic 66). Subs: Bogdan (gk), Tuncay, Knight, M Davies.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Mignolet; O'Shea, Turner, Brown, Richardson (Bardsley 87); Sessegnon, Colback, Vaughan, Larsson; Bendtner, Wickham. Subs: Cattermole, Gardner, Ji, Meyler, Elmohamady, Westwood (gk).