Kevin Nolan maintained his bid for a place in England's World Cup squad with his 11th goal of the season as Bolton condemned the Premiership's bottom side to their 24th league defeat at the Reebok Stadium.

In the process the 23-year-old club captain is steering Bolton towards Europe for a second successive campaign.

Nolan put the game out of Sunderland's reach by grabbing the second goal of the game six minutes from time.

Kevin Davies had opened the scoring in the 47th minute and from then on the visitors faced an uphill battle.

While Bolton continue to grow, Sunderland are heading for the Coca-Cola Championship and a ridiculously low points total.

Davies found the target in midweek during the FA Cup defeat by West Ham and he caused Sunderland problems from the outset.

He tried to pick out Ricardo Vaz Te in the fourth minute but goalkeeper Kelvin Davis read the danger and made the interception.

The home side maintained the momentum three minutes later and Stelios Giannakopoulos directed a cross into the path of Davies.

He tried to release Vaz Te but there was too much weight on his header and the chance was lost.

The home side raised the tempo and almost took the lead in the 16th minute when Gary Speed laid the ball back to Nolan.

The midfielder tried to curl a shot beyond Davis but only succeeded in finding the wrong side of the post.

Then Sunderland skipper Steven Caldwell did well to block a header from Davies inside the six yard area.

Vaz Te tried his luck in the 22nd minute after some poor defending but was off target with his shot.

The Portuguese youngster was again out of luck in the 24th minute when his effort cleared the bar.

Davis reacted superbly in the 26th minute to prevent his side going behind.

He somehow managed to turn away a point-blank header from Davies as Bolton kept up the pressure.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce was forced to make a change in the 30th minute with Henrik Pedersen replacing Ricardo Gardner.

The Jamaican defender was in some discomfort after taking a bang on his head.

Nigerian playmaker Jay-Jay Okocha tried to release Vaz Te in the 37th minute but Davis made the save after racing out of his goal.

Nolan squandered a clear chance in the 41st minute, chipping his weak effort into the arms of Davis from six yards.

Okocha then strode forward in the 42nd minute but the goalkeeper was equal to his effort.

Bolton made the breakthrough with Davies' fifth goal of the season at the start of the second half when he got on the end of a corner from Stelios to head the ball beyond Davis.

It was poor defending by Sunderland with Danny Collins failing to pick up Davies, who was also on target in midweek.

However the visitors rallied and two minutes later Miller tested Jussi Jaaskelainen with a shot from the edge of the area.

Sunderland caretaker boss Kevin Ball decided to make a switch in the 57th minute with Daryl Murphy replacing Smith.

Bolton almost added a second two minutes later when Okocha's marvellous inswinging cross evaded the visiting defence.

Veteran midfielder Speed raced into the box to get on the end of it but his effort went narrowly wide of the post.

Vaz Te had put in a hard shift up front and was replaced by Jared Borgetti in the 65th minute.

With only one goal in it, Sunderland were still in with a chance of getting something from the game.

However Nolan made it 2-0 in the 84th minute when he clipped the ball home at the far post after Davis had parried Speed's effort.

Speed almost added a third in stoppage time but Davis made a marvellous block.

Teams

Bolton Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, N'Gotty, Ben Haim,Gardner (Pedersen 30), Vaz Te (Borgetti 65), Nolan,Okocha (Faye 87), Speed, Giannakopoulos, Davies.

Subs Not Used: Walker, Nakata.

Booked: Nolan.

Goals: Davies 47, Nolan 85.

Sunderland Davis, Nosworthy, Caldwell, Collins, McCartney,Delap, Whitehead, Miller, Leadbitter (Breen 72),Smith (Daryl Murphy 57), Kyle (Brown 63).

Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Bassila.

Booked: Kyle, Delap, Breen, Brown.

Att: 23,568

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).