Marton Fulop made a crucial injury-time save to earn Sunderland a point at Bolton that edges them closer towards survival.

The Black Cats had been the better side for much of a tepid Barclays Premier League contest.

However, Bolton finally roused themselves in a frantic few minutes and Gary Cahill thought he had won it with a header that seemed to be heading for the corner.

Defeat would have been disastrous for the Black Cats but Fulop flung himself to the right to preserve a point, which gives them a five-point advantage over Newcastle and Middlesbrough, who meet at St James' Park on Monday.

In his programme notes, Gary Megson had stressed Bolton were still not safe even if the likelihood is that survival will be attained without so much as another point.

Clearly though, that message did not get through to his team.

The Trotters were sterile in the opening half, failing to muster one decent shot at the Sunderland goal.

It was a performance which did not meet with their supporters approval, with boos heard at regular intervals long before the half-time interval had been reached.

For Sunderland, it should have been manna from heaven, a perfect opportunity to collect the three points required to virtually ensure their own safety after a tortuous campaign.

But the Black Cats are bereft of confidence just now. Presented with a wide open door, they still struggled badly to walk through it.

There was a time when Kieran Richardson was an England international with the world at his feet. Now he just looks like an average Premier League midfielder, who too often takes the wrong option.

Teed up by Kenwyne Jones, Richardson had an early chance to settle a few Sunderland nerves. His shot sailed over.

It was to become a familiar story of a one-sided first-half.

Under-fire manager Ricky Sbragia hardly suggested a bold approach by leaving out Djibril Cisse. However, thanks to Bolton's total ineptitude, the visitors were completely on top.

Dean Whitehead's overhead kick, another Richardson effort and a low drive from the industrious Grant Leadbitter all threatened the home goal without looking like breaching it.

If Jones had managed to get himself on the end of something, it might have been a different story.

But the best the £6million forward could manage was a couple of assists, and an anguished flailing of the arms as Richardson ignored him, even though he was unmarked and in a central position, and got robbed by Gavin McCann after Andy O'Brien had gifted him possession.

Faced with the mutinous reaction of his own disgruntled supporters, Megson decided to act, introducing Mark Davies for a totally ineffective Cohen.

A £1million arrival from Wolves in the January transfer window, Davies managed to instil a sense of urgency among his team-mates which had been so badly lacking before.

The youngster drove one bullet strike straight at Calum Davenport, with namesake Kevin also responding to Davies' promptings, causing momentary panic in the Sunderland box with a neat flick-on which eventually ran through to Marton Fulop.

It meant Sunderland were not dominating as they had done before, even if they were still carving out opportunities for themselves.

Richardson should at least have tested Jaaskelainen with a 20-yard free-kick that drifted disappointingly over, which turned out to be the last opportunity they would have before Jones limped off.

Cisse's arrival met with the approval of his side's support, even if Richardson was the player who continued to hog the chances, a half-volley bobbling wide despite being on his better left-foot.

Jaaskelainen stuck out a boot to hack a Cisse cross-shot away from danger before Bolton made one last concerted attempt at breaking the deadlock.

Mark Davies rushed his shot when namesake Kevin flicked a header into his path, then fellow substitute Riga drove a volley into the ground when he should have done much better.

The real drama was still to come though, with Fulop emerging the hero as Sunderland inch nearer to safety.

Teams:

Bolton Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O'Brien,Samuel, Kevin Davies, Muamba, McCann, Cohen (Mark Davies 46),Taylor, Elmander (Riga 67).

Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Smolarek, Puygrenier, Makukula, Basham.

Booked: Cohen, Mark Davies.

Sunderland Fulop, Bardsley, Davenport, Ferdinand, Collins,Whitehead, Tainio (Reid 80), Malbranque, Leadbitter,Richardson, Jones (Cisse 72).

Subs Not Used: Colgan, Edwards, Murphy, Healy, McShane.

Att: 24,005

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).