Zat Knight's own goal gave Sunderland a late winner that guarantees their top-flight status for another season. After Daniel Sturridge's shot hit the bar, Boudewijn Zenden raced clear to put Sunderland ahead before half-time. Sturridge missed further chances to score for Bolton before substitute Ivan Klasnic headed in with only three minutes left to draw the hosts level. But Sulley Muntari ran through to send in a goalbound shot that a sliding Knight could only help over the line. Although it looked in doubt when the Trotters snatched a late equaliser, the visitors' win was testament to their determination, discipline and hunger as they overcame a side that had won their last five home matches. Sunderland may also have had a little luck, with their first goal coming after a passage of play when Bolton could have been awarded a free-kick for handball. And the visitors also needed heroics from Phil Bardsley, who threw himself in the way of three goalbound efforts. While the game was short on fluency and creativity, there was plenty of endeavour on display - and it was the Black Cats' battling qualities that brought them only their second win in 12 league games. Bolton, already safe in mid-table, might have been the perfect opposition for Sunderland but the hosts did not simply roll over. On-loan Chelsea forward Sturridge was lively throughout for the Trotters, and on a different day would surely have scored at least once. But there was still a sense that Bolton have yet to fully shake off that crushing 5-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat by Stoke on 17 April as they succumbed to their third consecutive defeat. The hosts' confidence might have been boosted had Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet not blocked Matthew Taylor's low shot early on. Instead, it was the Black Cats who begun to thrive and they should have taken the lead when Jordan Henderson's free-kick from the left picked out Bardsley but he sent his header off target from an unmarked position at the near post. Bolton hit back, though, and Sturridge had two chances to continue his rich vein of goalscoring form. But in the first his shot was blocked by John Mensah and in the second his effort was deflected on to the bar by Bardsley, who performed heroics in the second half when he flung his body in the way of another effort the striker. Just as the first period was coming to a close, Sturridge was again denied by excellent defending, this time Anton Ferdinand preventing him scoring from a rebound after Mignolet had spilled Matthew Taylor's shot. And seconds later, Sunderland earned huge reward for their brave resistance when Zenden was put clean through on the counter attack and he waltzed past keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to slot into an empty net. It might not have been unreasonable to expect an injury-ravaged visiting side to come out after the break and not take any risks. Stephane Sessegnon and Zenden seemed to have other ideas and the pair quickly forced Jaaskelainen into a decent stop and then Johan Elmander into a block. At that point, the Black Cats - even without the likes of latest injury victims Lee Cattermole and Kieran Richardson - looked comfortable. But when Bolton stepped up a gear it took a superb piece of defending from Bardsley to block Sturridge's goalbound effort and the rebound was sent over by Lee Chung-Yong. Soon after substitute Rodrigo Moreno stung the hands of Mignolet with a fizzing drive that the keeper could only parry. The signs of a Trotters recovery were there and the hosts got their equaliser when Moreno sent over a teasing cross for fellow substitute Klasnic to finish off with a downward header. With only three minutes left, it seemed Sunderland had had two points taken away from them - and it looked like they might endure worse when Davies' shot looked set to make it 2-1 to Bolton only for Bardsley to somehow clear with his head. But, incredibly, in stoppage time Black Cats boss Steve Bruce saw his side snatch all three points when Muntari latched on to a through ball from Sessegnon and the substitute's shot was dragged over the line by Knight as he tried to clear. Source: BBC