BOLTON 0, SUNDERLAND 1

STEVE BRUCE could not resist it. His team had given 5,500 Sunderland fans what they wanted.

So he did the same, saluting their calls after his side had trooped triumphantly off. A wave of the arms, both fists clenched, more travelling delight.

Whoever said Geordie Bruce's heritage would be a problem?

There had been a handshake for every player after opening day got off to the perfect start, a man's hug for his fulcrum Lee Cattermole, a special thanks to his match-winner Darren Bent.

Two debuts, equally impressive. Lorik Cana, the other taking his bow, was not far behind.

If Bruce had clicked his heels, a la Eric Morecambe as he headed to the sanctuary of the visiting dressing room, you'd have understood why.

First days at the office rarely go this well.

New signings rarely offer such justification for the money spent and the protracted nature of negotiations it took to land them, as was the case with Bent's transfer from Spurs.

"The chairman's been in a darkened room since the Bent deal," laughed a club lieutenant.

Niall Quinn emerged here into the bright sunshine to see the first forming of a team - strong, unflinching, and now garnished with some real quality.

Kenwyne Jones, Bent (below), Steed Malbranque and Kieran Richardson. A front quartet too much for Bolton. Repeatedly.

It took only five minutes for Bent to settle matters.

Malbranque's deep free-kick from the left was just right for Bent, who outjumped Kevin Davies to plant his header beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen.

It was a perfect start and by half-time it should have been six.

Yes, Richardson, the electrifying Bent and the rejuvenated Jones all should have scored.

Bent could have had a hat-trick. He knew it too.

Only that such dominance did not produce more will have caused a ripple of concern for Sunderland's new manager.

Later, the heavens would open. And there was equal delight for Bruce to learn that his players can fight, can rise to the challenge of a team they will finish comfortably above.

Something stirs in one corner of the north east. Even those whose sight lines are black and white are realising this could be Sunderland's golden period.

Ambitious chairman, hungry manager, rich owner.

Bruce will never get a better chance, and his side yesterday were proof that he knows he is at the crossroads of his career.

At the heart of it all was Cattermole, ruthless in the challenge, crisp in the pass and bullish in what he demanded from his team-mates.

He never stopped. And Cana, the former captain of Marseille, stood beside him. Sunderland were brittle in the engine room last season. Not now.

Bolton went down from Sunderland's first punch and were never allowed to clear their heads.

Gary Megson's side, fielding three new defenders in their back four, had no option but to cover up, and turn to the superb Jaaskelainen to repel the red and white barrage.

His excellence provided a rare bright spot for Megson but there were precious few other crumbs of comfort.

Defensively there is much to do. Introducing Zat Knight, Paul Robinson and Sam Ricketts all at once was way too big an ask.

And Johan Elmander, the £8million striker who scored five times last season, is an expensive misfit.

Bruce's spending is not yet done and there will be another push for Manchester City's Richard Dunne and Lyon's John Mensah this week - either could provide the captaining central defender he needs.

At the death, there was a fantastic, instinctive save from Marton Fulop to deny Sean Davis his own debut goal.

Fulop and his team-mates deserved their win, their acclaim.

Opening-day victory at the Reebok is no guarantee of future success as Sam Allardyce will heartily testify to.

His Newcastle won 3-1 here two years ago - the rest is history. At Sunderland the foundations are already in place. Bruce is there largely for the décor.

Keeping a lid on it all may be his toughest challenge.

This article has 3 comments