Bolton Wanderers are returning back to League One after a difficult campaign saw them relegated from the Championship.
The season actually started well, with a surprising 2-1 away victory at West Bromwich Albion, and the team were sat with nine points from their first four games.
Form eventually dwindled and it was clear from November that they were going to be involved in a relegation battle.
After beating Derby County in September, the side won just four more games and finished with 32 points.
Manager Phil Parkinson has the experience to take the team out of League One, but a points deduction means that they will start next season on -12 points.
HEAD TO HEAD
Sunderland and Bolton have faced each other a remarkable 147 times in all competitions.
Overall, it is the Black Cats that have the edge previous encounters having won 67 of those games while losing 50.
MEMORABLE MEETING
Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers were both early season favourites for promotion in the 1998-99 season and they met at the Reebok Stadium early in the campaign in what was dubbed as a six-pointer.
The hosts had started the season excellently but had lost their previous two games heading into this fixture.
Peter Reid’s men, on the other hand, were flying and were yet to taste defeat.
Goals from Allan Johnston, Niall Quinn and Michael Bridges were more than enough in what was one of the teams most clinical performances of the season.
Sunderland would of course go up as champions while Bolton finished sixth.
FACTFILE
Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium
Miles from Stadium of Light: 150 miles
Honours:
FA Cup winners (4): 1923, 1926, 1929, 1958
Record transfer: Johan Elmander (£8.2m, 2008)
The season actually started well, with a surprising 2-1 away victory at West Bromwich Albion, and the team were sat with nine points from their first four games.
Form eventually dwindled and it was clear from November that they were going to be involved in a relegation battle.
After beating Derby County in September, the side won just four more games and finished with 32 points.
Manager Phil Parkinson has the experience to take the team out of League One, but a points deduction means that they will start next season on -12 points.
HEAD TO HEAD
Sunderland and Bolton have faced each other a remarkable 147 times in all competitions.
Overall, it is the Black Cats that have the edge previous encounters having won 67 of those games while losing 50.
MEMORABLE MEETING
Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers were both early season favourites for promotion in the 1998-99 season and they met at the Reebok Stadium early in the campaign in what was dubbed as a six-pointer.
The hosts had started the season excellently but had lost their previous two games heading into this fixture.
Peter Reid’s men, on the other hand, were flying and were yet to taste defeat.
Goals from Allan Johnston, Niall Quinn and Michael Bridges were more than enough in what was one of the teams most clinical performances of the season.
Sunderland would of course go up as champions while Bolton finished sixth.
FACTFILE
Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium
Miles from Stadium of Light: 150 miles
Honours:
FA Cup winners (4): 1923, 1926, 1929, 1958
Record transfer: Johan Elmander (£8.2m, 2008)
