PREMIER LEAGUE/Sunderland 4 Bolton W 0:AFTER ALMOST four months and 14 Premier League games without a win, Sunderland's bleak midwinter ended last night.

Like Bolton, Sunderland have not yet banished relegation fears but, thanks to Darren Bent’s hat-trick and Frazier Campbell’s opener, their manager has no reason to feel trepidation when he attends a scheduled meeting with the club’s owner Ellis Short this morning.

There was, however, no mystery about the relief on Bruce’s face or the smiles on Short’s features as Campbell’s first Premier League goal gave Sunderland the lead after just 44 seconds.

When Anton Ferdinand’s deep cross prompted consternation in Bolton’s box Sam Ricketts could only head it back as far as Lorik Cana who, having switched feet in mid-air, sent another swerving, miscued cross into the area for Campbell to latch on to before beating Jussi Jaaskelainen courtesy of a controlled volley.

Sunderland managed a second goal following a couple of decent passes when Bent held off a clutch of markers to shoot powerfully past Jaaskelainen from just inside the area.

It got worse for Bolton and even better for Bent. First Sam Ricketts was sent off for a second yellow card offence, namely the shove which sent Bent tumbling in the area, thereby conceding a penalty.

Next the victim dusted himself down and stepped forward to convert that kick before completing his first Sunderland treble by shooting through a crowded area after playing a lovely one-two with Campbell.

SUNDERLAND: Gordon, Ferdinand, Turner, Mensah (Zenden 79), Hutton, Malbranque (Mwaruwari 85), Cana, Cattermole (Bardsley 70), Campbell, Jones, Bent. Subs Not Used: Carson, McCartney, Da Silva, Kilgallon. Booked: Cana, Bent.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Robinson, Ricketts, Knight, Steinsson, Gardner (Taylor 73), Wilshere, Muamba (Weiss 57), Lee, Kevin Davies, Elmander (Klasnic 65). Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Samuel, Riga, Andrew O’Brien. Sent Off: Ricketts (74). Booked: Ricketts, Lee.

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).