Before
I think that a win tonight would be our most enjoyable result for over a year, maybe since we last beat the Mags at home. Results over the weekend haven't been bad for us on the whole with Burnley, Wolves, West Ham and Hull losing while Wigan and Bolton showed us what we should be doing tonight. Of course we can overhaul both of them if we win but as ever these days it's a very big if. I'd be very happy to see Steed back in midfield as he, Reid and Henderson have been much missed and though we've tightened up in defence a lot, the goals at the other end have dried up too largely through lack of decent service to Bent and Jones. I hope Mensah plays as he's lived up to his nickname of the Rock while much around him has crumbled. Bolton have surprised themselves maybe by winning two on the trot but I can't see them winning three in a row. Match prediction; 2-1 to us. I've got a few cans in for the post-match celebration.

The Match
By the time I got linked up to Radio Newcastle we were already one-up through Campbell of all people and though sometimes I don't know if I'm more worried if we go ahead than if we go one-down, the net result was definitely happiness. It was good to hear both Steed and Catts in the starting line-up and we certainly sounded like we had our tails up for a change as the crowd roared us on. Steed was making his presence felt by putting in some good crosses and mid-way through the half Campbell did very well to put Bent away but he missed a great chance to increase our lead by shooting wide. Bolton were getting plenty of corners but there were very few mentions of danger man Kevin Davies. Cana collected his tenth yellow card but the crowd were furious when Steinsson walked away unpunished for a similar foul a minute later though Ricketts was soon punished for bringing down Jones. With ten minutes to go Steed again broke down the flank and crossed for Jones to win our first corner. Jones was playing well and went close again with a long-range shot. I was glad to hear he was playing close to Bent unlike in the Fulham debacle when he was much deeper for some reason. I've been impressed by Hutton and think we should definitely make him a permanent signing as he displays an all too rare ability to dribble down the wing and put in good crosses and the occasional good shot too as he demonstrated just before the break. As that whistle went not a boo was audible over the airwaves. This had been a much improved effort, though anything could happen and I was waiting for a second goal before I could relax a little.

There were no changes as the second half kicked off but Bolton began to pressurize more. The crowd was announced and all things considered it was a decent 36,000. Bolton had much the better of the first fifteen minutes and I was looking at the clock and moving around the room rearranging stuff on shelves and generally fiddling about to try and pass the time. We were playing too deep, and we all know what happens when we do that. Just after the hour my nerves received some delicious balm when Catts set up Bent to put us 2-0 up. I couldn't remember the last time we were 2-0 up in a league game and I didn't care. Catts asked to come off shortly afterwards and Bardsley replaced him in midfield with no further rearrangement. With twenty minutes or so to go Steed again played a great pass to Bent who was thoughtfully brought down by Ricketts thus earning himself a red card and us our third goal from the spot. I was rooting for four to boost our already considerable goal difference advantage over our rivals and Jones came close to doing that but Jaaskelainen saved well. Mensah got a great round when he was subbed by Zenden and rightly so as he'd again put in a very good display. We may yet see him play four in a row and I certainly hope so. Benjani replaced Steed near the end and I have to say I'm yet to be convinced by him. Whatever misdemeanour Steed was guilty of, please punish him again as it's certainly brought out the best in him. With a few minutes to go Bent got his hat-trick and the commentator told us it was the first Sunderland hat-trick since Marcus Stewart in 2005. My God, that sounded a very long time ago. He's on nineteen goals now and is surely on for twenty-five and a possible ticket to South Africa. Five minutes of stoppage-time were announced and that was the first time I've welcomed such an announcement for many a week.

So, a 4-0 win is always extremely welcome especially against a rival and this has put us six points clear of Wolves and Hull, and seven clear of Burnley with a massive advantage in goal-difference. The greatest benefit from this game, though, will surely be a much-needed boost in confidence; just look at the difference that goal made to Campbell. Bring on City.

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