El HADJI DIOUF'S superb strike virtually ensures Wanderers' Barclays Premier League status.

It was perhaps fitting that it was the Senegalese star scored in what is possibly his last game for the Whites and if that's the case, it certainly was an apt goal for the occasion.

An electric atmosphere at the start of the match spurred on by a crowd of over 25,000 and also by the results of Bolton's relegation rivals, turned into carnival time at the end of 90 minutes.

The first half saw few chances created and the optimism turned to tension as the Bolton attack couldn't break down Sunderland and the nerves set in. Al Habsi's uncharacteristic clearance fell straight to Jones but the Sunderland striker wasn't expecting it and the ball bounced back the the grateful Omani international.

Kevin Davies certainly added some steel to the proceedings and was just as fired up as usual despite missing the previous two games; Danny Higginbotham knew he was in the game after only 15 mins when Davies clattered him albeit fairly!

Although Bolton huffed and puffed the remaining exchanges only saw one chance when Diouf's teasing cross evaded Craig Gordon, and Davies rose above everyone but couldn't keep his header down.

Sunderland in truth, were never really in the game and only had a couple of half-chances and the first half looked like it was going to end goalless until Diouf's heroics.  Captain Kevin Nolan crossed and Davies cleverly left the ball for Diouf on the left who controlled the ball first time brilliantly.  He still had a lot to do, but unleashed a perfect strike which curled in to the top right hand corner.  This no doubt altered Gary Megson's half time team talk.

The second half came and there was only ever one side who looked like adding to the goal tally, however Roy Keane was determined to mix things up.  On the hour, he made a triple substitution including Daryl Murphy.  This was preceded by another good chance for the Wanderers when Diouf hit the post after a cross from Taylor.

It was substitute Murphy who certainly did make a difference in the game albeit for the wrong reasons.  A corner on the right by Taylor was fired in and Murphy headed the ball backwards and over the line whilst under pressure from Davies and Nolan.  The ball was cleared but the linesman correctly spotted that the ball had gone at least a yard over the line to put the result beyond any doubt.

Very little action followed but the Bolton faithful will not care and next week's game against Chelsea wll be party time.  We must remember that it's not mathematically beyond doubt but 11 goals for Reading to overcome will take surely a miracle.