Sunderland vs Bolton
Sunderland
Bolton
vs
Tuesday 9th March 2010
Venue: Stadium of Light
Kick-off: 19:45
Score: 4 - 0
Injury crisis for Bruce
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is facing yet another injury crisis with four midfielders doubtful for Tuesday night's crucial Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton.
Kieran Richardson, who has started the last two games after recovering from a calf injury, has damaged his other calf muscle, while Lee Cattermole is struggling with a hamstring-related problem.
Andy Reid (hamstring) and Jordan Henderson (ankle) are close to returning from lengthy lay-offs, but the game could come too soon, while David Meyler completes his three-match ban.
However, Steed Malbranque will be involved after returning to the squad following a breach of club discipline.
Under-pressure boss Steve Bruce is determined to provide owner Ellis Short with a return on his investment.
The Texan businessman will sit in the stands at the Stadium of Light as the club he is currently bankrolling attempts to secure a first league win in 15 attempts.
Chairman Niall Quinn last week revealed that Short had converted #48million in loans into shares and provided the funds to recruit the likes of Darren Bent, Lee Cattermole, Lorik Cana and Michael Turner last summer.
But as he takes his seat tomorrow night, he will do so with his club sitting just three points clear of the relegation zone and in severe danger of being sucked into the mire if they do not end a sequence of Premier League games without victory which dates back to November 21.
Bruce said: "What the owner has done in the last 12 months is nothing short of incredible. It's fantastic support. We all in football want an owner and a chairman like I have got, and it's not been easy for any of us.
"But when you are in it and you are in a bad run, that's when you need the support of your owner and your chairman and I have to say, the pair of them have been fantastic. I have to give them something, and especially the owner. What he has done for this club in the short period of time he has been here is fantastic."
Bolton midfielder Mark Davies could make his return from injury in time for the trip.
Davies has been nursing an ankle problem which has kept him out of Wanderers' last three matches.
Tamir Cohen is suspended after he was sent off against West Ham on Saturday and Gary Cahill is not expected back in full training for another week as he continues his recovery following the discovery of a blood clot in his arm.
Stuart Holden (fractured fibula), Gavin McCann (ankle), Chris Basham, Joey O-Brien and Sean Davis (all knee) are also still sidelined.
Owen Coyle insists nobody at Bolton is getting carried away despite the team recording back-to-back victories in their last two games.
Wanderers moved themselves five points clear of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone at the weekend with a 2-1 win at West Ham, their first away victory since September.
Having also beaten Wolves 1-0 at the Reebok Stadium seven days earlier, Bolton's position suddenly looks far healthier as they prepare for the trip.
However, the battle to avoid the drop remains tight, and with 10 games to go, Coyle is not about to let any of his players get complacent about their survival prospects.
"It's always nice to win matches, but there is certainly no leaping about," Coyle said. "We've won two games back-to-back and it's given us six valuable points, but that's all it is.
"We have got so much hard work ahead of us, starting at Sunderland, and we have to be at our best, as we have been in our last couple of games, to go and earn points. We are delighted to get those points on the board, but we are certainly not getting carried away."
