THERE were cries for Kevin Phillips to replace Phil Parkinson on Wearside as Sunderland’s hopes of enjoying some festive cheer at the Stadium of Light ended with them resembling more of a team playing with a Christmas Day hangover.

After a dreadful afternoon’s football in which the Black Cats struggled to create anything of real quality in the final third, large sections of the home support decided to take matters in their own hands for entertainment.

Having sang about Niall Quinn, Julio Arca, Gary Rowell and Phillips, those jovial singalongs turned into cries for Parkinson to lose his job after yet another 90 minutes when Sunderland dropped further down the League One ladder.

Sunderland, who have won just two of their 14 matches since Jack Ross lost his job in October, are now at a historic low of 15th in the third tier and seven points from the play-off zone after another uninspiring afternoon at the Stadium of Light.

With ten minutes to go Parkinson was left clear how the Sunderland fans felt in the Roker End, where “we want Parky out” was followed by “you’re getting sacked in the morning” and “we want Super Kev” cries.

The boos that greeted the final whistle from every corner of the ground said it all, as Bolton had the best chances before eventually substitutes Chris Maguire and Marc McNulty did force opposition goalkeeper Remi Matthews into two late saves.

Bolton, for all their problems having had 12 points deducted because of the financial issues which blighted them earlier this year, arrived in the North-East in far greater shape than they have been but inn truth they were never tested anywhere near the levels they should have been.

Two defeats from six in the league indicates improvement, even if it remains a tall order for them to stay up this season. And no wonder they fancied their chances here too, given Sunderland’s record of just two wins from 14 under ex-Trotters boss Parkinson.

Parkinson and his players were encouraged by aspects of their last display against Blackpool, so it was no surprise to see the same shape, but the 12 days without a game failed to improve the quality, just a few changes that didn’t have the desired effect.

Sunderland struggled to really test goalkeeper Remi Matthews. Bolton, in fact, had the two best chances of the first half when Ronan Darcy followed a free volley that flew over by being denied by Jon McLaughlin from close range.

The second of those was the result of a clear counter, something Bolton liked to try to deliver, when he was rolled in behind the defence despite strong Sunderland claims for a handball at the other end when Josh Earl appeared to use his arm to control a bouncing ball. No penalty was given.

There were decisions from Middlesbrough-born referee Ross Joyce during that period that were questioned by Parkinson and the Sunderland contingent. Another was when defender Tom Flanagan had the ball in the net just after half an hour from Grant Leadbitter’s corner, but there was a barge on Matthews in the process.

Otherwise the nearest Sunderland came was through a Wyke header that was tipped over by Matthews from another Leadbitter corner, while O’Nien’s free header at the back post curled straight into the goalkeeper from Hume’s cross.

Hume’s willingness to hit the byline and try to beat his man in the attacking quarter was one of the highlights of the first half. What he needed was for Wyke, or anyone else for that matter, to deliver the finish required to alter the scoreline.

After the restart Hume and O’Nien were the likeliest men to make an impact on things again, but Sunderland couldn’t get going and the quality of the passing was abysmal at times, which frustrated the home support who could not have seen a breakthrough goal arrive.

O’Nien went closest to score with an hour approaching. Sunderland’s best move up to that point led to Watmore being played down the line in space, where he rolled a ball back across the box where the onrushing O’Nien fired wide first time.

He ought to have hit the target in all honesty but at least it sparked the crowd and the game back to life, but then Sunderland’s fans started to entertain themselves with their chants about players from yesteryear.

Those might have turned sour sooner had McLaughlin not brilliantly denied another ex in the form of Daryl Murphy with 22 minutes remaining from close range. The Scottish goalkeeper managed to dart across and turn away the close-range effort.

Sunderland did finish the stronger after the introduction of Chris Maguire and Marc McNulty.

There remained a lack of conviction and the anti-Parkinson chants grew stronger and stronger after Maguire’s free-kick was turned brilliantly away by Matthews. The keeper then made an even better stoppage-time save to turn away McNulty’s strike destined for the top corner.

Sunderland wouldn’t have deserved the victory, and the fans were quick to let everyone know it.

Goals: None

Bookings: Emmanuel (19, foul); Lowe (21, foul); Flanagan (43, foul)

Sending-off: None

Referee: Ross Joyce (Middlesbrough) 4

Attendance: 33,821

Entertainment: *

SUNDERLAND (5-4-1): J McLAUGHLIN 7; O’Nien 5, Flanagan 6 (De Bock 73), Ozturk 4, Willis 6, Hume 7; Watmore 5 (Maguire 65, 6), Power 5, Leadbitter 5, Gooch 4 (McNulty 79); Wyke 4. Subs (not used) Burge (gk), C McLaughlin, Grigg, Sammut.

BOLTON WANDERERS (4-4-1-1): MATTHEWS 7; Emmanuel 6, Bridcutt 7, Wright 6, Earl 5; Verlinden 6 (O’Grady 65, 5), Lowe 6, L Murphy 5, Dodoo 6; Darcy 7 (Chicksen 88); D Murphy 5. Subs (not used): Alexander, Politic, Zouma, Senior, Graham.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Remi Matthews – it was a game when either goalkeeper could have won it because there was very little else.