On This Day (4th January 2003): Phillips earns cup replay for Sunderland!
01/04/2025 01:00 AM
The introduction of Tore Andre Flo provided Sunderland with a second half boost, as he linked up with Super Kev to nab a cup replay for Howard Wilkinson's side at Bolton!
The 2002-03 season was shaping up to be one of the worst in the history of Sunderland Association Football Club.
Howard Wilkinson had taken over as manager after recommending himself for the role when Sunderland chairman Bob Murray sought his advice on who should replace Peter Reid. Reid had been dismissed following a poor run of form that had carried over from the previous season.
Despite a significant win against Liverpool at the Stadium of Light in mid-December, Wilkinson's appointment had failed to improve results on the pitch. A combination of struggling to score goals and being unable to prevent them at the other end had become a glaring issue for the team.
In the third round of the FA Cup, Sunderland were drawn against fellow Premiership opponents Bolton Wanderers, with whom they had already drawn 1-1 earlier in the campaign at the Reebok Stadium. This cup tie provided Sunderland with a potential respite from their dreadful league form, and Kevin Phillips proved pivotal by scoring the equaliser that earned Wilkinson's side a second chance.
After a slow start, Bolton took the lead through one-time England international Michael Ricketts in the 18th minute, during what was described as a "scrappy encounter" by one match report. Ricketts' goal came after Phillips had a decent opportunity to put Sunderland ahead. Left in acres of space in the box, Ricketts headed the ball into the top right-hand corner from a Jeff Smith corner.
Ricketts and his strike partner Delroy Facey had chances to extend Bolton's lead. Ricketts failed to hit the target with another first-half header, while Facey squandered two good opportunities.
In an already dire first half for the visitors, Stephen Wright and his replacement, Mark Rossiter, were both forced off due to injury.
Sunderland manager Howard Wilkinson recognised the need for change at half-time, and the introduction of Tore André Flo had an immediate impact. Flo's ability to link up with Phillips proved crucial in securing the equaliser.
Paul Thirlwell produced an intelligent run down the left flank before delivering a cross to Phillips, who charged ahead of Bolton goalkeeper Kevin Poole to head the ball into the net.
Phillips' equaliser gave the visitors momentum, and they came close to finding a winner late on. In the 79th minute, Phillips beat the offside trap but was unable to capitalise, as his shot lacked accuracy and bobbled harmlessly away from goal.
In the end, a draw was a fair result, and Wilkinson appeared satisfied with his team's performance, which earned them a replay at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland went on to win the replay, but Wilkinson lamented the additional strain it placed on the squad.
"We had our chances to win it, which would have saved us another game," he remarked.
Bolton Wanderers: Poole, Bulent, Livesey (Whitlow, 73), Campo, Barness, Smith, Tofting (Okocha, 73), Hunt, Farrelly, Ricketts, Facey.
Substitutes not used: Jaaskelainen, Walters, Nolan.
Booked: Hunt.
Sunderland: Macho, Wright (Rossiter, 16; Bjorklund, 27), Babb, Craddock, McCartney, Thirlwell, Proctor, Williams, Oster, Kyle (Flo, 45), Phillips.
Substitutes not used: Sorensen, Stewart.
Booked: McCartney, Oster.
Referee: G. Barber (Hertfordshire).
Attendance: 10,123.
