Costly errors by the Sunderland defense saw the Black Cats slump to their fifth defeat in last six games as they were soundly beaten 4-1 by Bolton Wanderers.

Having suffered three straight defeats, Sunderland were off to a good start when Steed Malbranque teed up the ball for Djibril Cisse to slot in from close range in the 11th minute. However Bolton fought back and were soon on level terms six minutes later when Matthew Taylor rose high to head home Gretar Steinsson's cross.

The visitors raced to the lead two minutes later when Andy O'Brien's curled in a free kick from long range and the Sunderland defense failed to clear the ball, allowing Gary Cahill with a simple finish to score from 12 yards out.

Sunderland looked to have equalized minutes later through Cisse but the linesman ruled that Kenwyne Jones had fouled Jlloyd Samuel in the build up to that chance. Having recently scored only his second goal for the club, Johan Elmander was on the score sheet for a second straight game when he latched on to a cross from Taylor and beat keeper Craig Gordon before slotting the ball into an empty net.

Elmander scored his second goal of the night 10 minutes into the second half when Kevin Nolan snatched the ball from Dean Whitehead before passing the ball for the Swedish striker who was left with a simple finish.