Darren Bent struck a second-half hat-tick for Sunderland as they sealed a 4-0 victory over Bolton.
Winless run ends for Mackems as Ricketts sees red
Darren Bent struck a second-half hat-tick for Sunderland, who ended a 14-game winless run with a 4-0 victory over Bolton on Tuesday night.
Strike partner Fraizer Campbell had earlier handed the Black Cats a perfect start as he grabbed the fastest goal of the Premier League season with a volley after just 41 seconds.
Sunderland were worthy of their slender lead at the break but emerged for the second period in rampant fashion, and Bent kick-started his evening with the second goal on 64 minutes.
Ten minutes later, Bolton were reduced to ten men as Sam Ricketts received his second yellow card after tripping Bent inside the penalty area. The striker picked himself up to nestle the spot-kick into the bottom corner and put the home side in full control.
Bent then completed his hat-trick three minutes from time with a well worked goal, slotting the ball home to restate his claim for a place in England's World Cup squad this summer with his 18th Premier League goal of the season.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce welcomed Steed Malbranque back into the starting line-up.
The Frenchman, who was back in contention after being left out of the goalless draw against Fulham last weekend following a breach of discipline, replaced the injured Kieran Richardson.
That was the only change to the starting line-up as fellow midfielder Lee Cattermole passed a late fitness test. Bolton boss Owen Coyle also made a single change, with Ricardo Gardner replacing the suspended Tamir Cohen.
Perfect start
The Black Cats got off to the perfect start as Lorik Cana beautifully controlled on the edge of the penalty area before hooking the ball towards the back post where Campbell was unmarked to stab a volley against the ground and into the roof of the net inside the opening minute.
The Trotters had the ball in the back of the net themselves soon after, but the goal was ruled out after Gretar Steinsson's long throw evaded all targets before being intentionally left by alert Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon to bounce untouched and illegally into the net.
Campbell was at the thick of the action in the early stages and it was he who set up a golden opportunity for Bent with a pass from the outside of his right foot splitting the Bolton defence.
Just 23 minutes had gone when Bent collected the pass before cutting inside onto his right foot but could only drag his effort wide of the far post despite keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen struggling for position.
Cana went into the book on the half hour mark after dragging Ricardo Gardner to the floor. The booking was his tenth of the season, earning him a two-match ban.
Kenwyne Jones tried his luck from outside the penalty box after 34 minutes after he collected a Malbranque pass and fizzed an effort towards goal, only to see Jaaskelainen tip wide at his near post.
A minute before the break, Alan Hutton failed the make the most of a Sunderland counter-attack after he was played in on the right by Jones.
The Scot had an unmarked Bent screaming for a pass at the back post but he chose to cut inside before screwing his shot harmlessly wide to his team-mate's frustration.
Second-half
Fabrice Muamba was forced off in the early stages of the re-start after a clash of knees with Campbell. On-loan Manchester City youngster Vladimir Weiss replaced him as the game began to open up.
Sunderland finally had the cushion they deserved when Cattermole picked up possession and slid an inch-perfect pass for Bent who cut inside Sam Ricketts onto his favoured right-foot before steering pass Jaaskelainen on 64 minutes.
Bolton, to their credit, responded well with Black Cats keeper Gordon forced to palm away a cross from Weiss before Trotters substitute Ivan Klasnic fired high and wide when he should have hit the target.
Black Cats boss Bruce may have paid the price for involving the influential Cattermole too soon, as he was forced to withdraw on 70 minutes through injury.
The away side's attempt at a fight-back soon took a turn for the worst, however, when defender Ricketts picked up his second yellow card of the game after nudging an onrushing Bent to the ground inside the area.
As Ricketts trudged off the pitch, Bent got back on his feet to send Jaaskelainen the wrong way on 74 minutes for his 17th Premier League goal of the season.
Bolton were left with a huge task to overcome and they had their Finnish keeper to thank for keeping the score down as he brilliantly tipped over the bar from a close-range Jones effort two minutes after the third goal.
Bent thought he had his hat-trick six minutes from time as he beat Jaaskelainen at his near post, only to see his effort ricochet off the upright and into the path of Jones who was in an offside position as he stabbed the ball into an empty net.
Bent didn't have long to wait after, though, as he combined with Campbell once more, striking a return pass on the edge of the penalty area first time into the bottom corner on 87 minutes, ensuring he went home with the match ball.
