In the chilly aftermath of Roy Keane's departure, Sunderland found renewed hope under Ricky Sbragia's gentler leadership, transforming a season of uncertainty into a moment of potential triumph.

Less than two months after a crushing defeat that saw Keane's exit, the Black Cats entered the FA Cup third-round clash against Bolton with something to prove. The team, previously plagued by frustration and fear, now seemed ready to demonstrate resilience.

The match began with a tepid first half, described by BBC as "lifeless", where chances were scarce. A moment of tension arose when Bolton's Ricardo Gardner dramatically cleared an El-Hadji Diouf corner that threatened to breach their defenses.

The second half transformed the narrative entirely. Kenwyne Jones broke the deadlock with a precise header from Kieran Richardson's pinpoint cross, igniting the Stadium of Light with hope. Minutes later, Djibril Cissé acrobatically volleyed home a second goal from Carlos Edwards' cross, solidifying Sunderland's momentum.

Despite Bolton's late consolation goal from substitute Ebi Smolarek - which deflected past Márton Fülöp - Sunderland held firm. Midfielder Teemu Tainio's mature performance in the closing minutes was particularly noteworthy, maintaining composure during a potentially nervous conclusion.

Manager Ricky Sbragia was jubilant after the victory, stating: "I am delighted that after a bad performance at Everton we got back on track. It is great to go through. I was reminded yesterday we hadn't qualified for the fourth round for three years."

While the win provided temporary relief, the season would ultimately prove challenging, with Sunderland narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day in a nerve-wracking conclusion to their campaign.