If Sunderland’s recent history is littered with embarrassments, this was another candidate for the title of the new low. They can seem to be slumming it in League One, but they slumped to their heaviest ever defeat in third-tier football. In a meeting of the inspired and the insipid, Bolton’s third win in a week at least suggested League One has some restorative powers for them. For Sunderland, it seems the land of broken dreams and an ignominious exile from their natural terrain looks like to continue.
Bolton could savour a demolition, orchestrated by a recent arrival who highlighted the shift in their fortunes. A ground that hosted Atletico Madrid in 2008 will stage Accrington in April. Bolton used to sign from Real Madrid. Now they have recruited Accrington’s Northern Ireland international Dion Charles and the striker, one of six January signings, scored his second and third goals for his new employers. He ran Sunderland ragged. The Black Cats’ ineptitude was epitomised by Danny Batth, donating Bolton’s fifth goal with a spectacular diving header.
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