Bolton Wanderers have beaten Sunderland 2-0 in their Premier League match at The Reebok Stadium on Saturday, with El-Hadji Diouf scoring the first goal of the match just before half-time and an own-goal from Daryl Murphy taking Bolton closer to Premier League survival.

Bolton Wanderers remain fifth from bottom of the Premier League table, but now have 36 points, three points ahead of fellow Premier League strugglers Fulham and Reading, and the win almost certainly dragging themselves out of danger, while Sunderland have already secured a place in next season’s Premiership.

The game started fairly slowly, with neither side seeming too willing to commit, and it wasn’t until just before the half-hour mark before the game began to spark to life.

The home-side were the first to threaten, with Kevin Davies coming close in the 28th minute, heading El Hadji-Diouf’s cross just over Craig Gordon’s crossbar.

Just minutes later Kenwyne Jones made a break at the other end of the pitch, but his right-footed shot was saved by Ali Al Habsi in the Bolton goal.

Dean Whitehead had his shot blocked by Gary Cahill in the 40th minute, before Bolton took the lead in the 42nd minute.

El-Hadji Diouf struck home after latching on to Kevin Nolan's cross from the right wing, smashing the ball past Craig Gordon and into the top-right of the goal to make it 1-0 at the break.

The second-half saw Sunderland have a couple of attempts, with Michael Chopra and Kieran Richardson both having shots, but it was the home-side who pressed harder for a second goal, with Diouf again the major threat for Gary Megson’s side.

He came close again in the 54th minute. Kevin Nolan crossed the ball, finding Diouf at the far-post, but his downward header was parried away by Craig Gordon.

Kenwyne Jones had a wonderful chance to equalise in the 70th minute, but he failed to connect at close-range to a headed cross, with only the keeper to beat.

Bolton went 2-0 up with an own-goal from second-half substitute Daryl Murphy in the 83rd minute, with the Black Cats defender heading past Gordon from an in-swinging corner-kick from Matthew Taylor and get Bolton one step closer to Premiership survival.

The only way that Bolton could be relegated is for both Fulham and Reading to win next weekend, and for Bolton to lose heavily. The Trotters have an 11 goal difference over Reading, so it would be unimaginable if Bolton weren't to feature in next seasons Premiership.

Bolton Wanderers Team: Ali Al Habsi, Jlloyd Samuel, Andrew O'Brien, Gretar Rafn Steinsson, Gary Cahill, Matthew Taylor, Matthew Taylor, Kevin Nolan, Gavin McCann, Danny Guthrie, Kevin Cyril Davies, El Hadji Diouf.

Bolton Wanderers Substitutes Not Used: Ian Walker, Stelios Giannakopoulos, Abdoulaye Meite, Grzegorz Rasiak, Tamir Cohen.

Sunderland Team: Craig Gordon, Nyron Nosworthy (Daryl Murphy, 61), Danny Higginbotham, Danny Collins, Jonathan Evans, Liam Miller (Grant Leadbitter, 61), Andy Reid, Dean Whitehead, Kieran Richardson, Michael Chopra (Roy O'Donovan, 62), Kenwyne Jones.

Sunderland Substitutes Not Used: Dwight Yorke, Marton Fulop.