IT may have been a split second moment among 94 minutes of action at the Stadium of Light, but Craig Gordon’s world-class save from Zat Knight will be spoken of for a long time.

Good saves are not always given the same amount of reverence afforded to good goals – you never see a “good saves” compilation DVD, or a “save of the month” contest on television – but those who witnessed the Scottish international’s reflex stop from point-blank range will, quite rightly, be ranking the moment which kept Sunderland in the game among the moments of the season so far.

Typically, the man himself, in the glare of the post-match cameras, with microphones stuck in his face, was as humble as he was when he emerged as a major talent while with Heart of Midlothian.

He explained: “I was just trying to get back across from the corner and it was a good head back. I stuck my left hand out and I was a little behind it, and was just trying to cover as much of the goal as possible. It was an instinctive thing to do. Luckily, I got enough on it and sent it away over the bar.

“I don’t know if that is the best save I have made. A few years ago I made one against Motherwell, which I was proud of. It’s definitely in my top five.”

Commentators around the Stadium of Light described the stop as “Montgomeryesque”

– but that comparison was played down by Sunderland’s present-day number one.

“But you can’t compare this one with Jimmy’s,” Gordon insisted.

“After all, his one won an FA Cup final for Sunderland – mine just helped us on the way to three points. So I’ll give that one to him. It was an enjoyable one though and I will remember it.”

Steve Bruce had the opportunity to enjoy the moment again at full-time, with replays of the save being played out on TVs around the ground, and he said: “It’s a good save when you see it on the telly repeatedly.

“How the hell he gets there and then up and over the bar from there. He was right behind. He’s done the hard part by getting his hand to it and over the bar. It was a terrific save.

“I’ve seen him make a few saves for us now if I’m being honest. The back end of last season, Manchester City, he kept them out almost singlehandedly and as an individual save that’s as good as I’ve seen for a long, long time.

“You can tell when the rest of his team-mates go over and clap him, it’s something a bit special, a fantastic save. It’s as good as I’ve seen, you know.

You get brilliant saves and that should be mentioned for a long, long time to come.”

The save summed up a frustrating day for Bolton, who were full of industry but short on creating chances. But the Trotters were magnanimous in their praise of Gordon’s save.

Bolton striker Kevin Davies said: “It was an amazing save.

Zat did everything right, I really thought it was in. And it is one of those I really don’t know how he managed to get his hand to it and push the ball over.”