Bwfc Uk

Bolton have now virtually secured their Premier League status with a 2-0 win over Sunderland this afternoon. The only way they could go down now is if Fulham win at Portsmouth, Reading beat Derby by several goals and Bolton lose at Stamford Bridge by several goals - the total must be at least 11 for Bolton to be relegated (eg Derby 0 Reading 6 & Chelsea 5 Bolton 0).

Goals from El-Hadji Diouf - on his last appearance for Wanderers at the Reebok - and a controversial own goal by Daryl Murphy gave Bolton the victory, although the performance wasn’t great.

Wanderers just managed one shot on target in 90 minutes (according to sky), so to win by 2 was quite an achievement! The opener came just before the break, when Nolan’s cross found Diouf at the back post and he fired across Craig Gordon into the top corner.

Roy Keane made a triple substitution midway through the second half, but once again Gary Megson didn’t make a single change. The subs failed to make an impact at the right end, but Murphy seemed determined to get his name on the scoresheet as he converted Matt Taylor’s corner. The ball was cleared but the linesman ruled it had crossed the line.

It was the best atmosphere of the season (at a league match anyway) and there were huge celebrations after the second goal went in. Diouf did one final lap of the Reebok at full time and over 20,000 Wanderers fans stayed to cheer him off.

Bolton are now virtually certain to be playing in the Premier League next season.

I can’t ask any more of them in terms of every game they have played and the effort they have put in.

We can play better because results haven’t been enough to get us into a position where we hope a club like this could be, but in terms of where we were to where we are I can’t complain at all.

We haven’t played brilliantly this afternoon but we play with our hearts on our sleeve and give everything we’ve got.

- Gary Megson