England round-up: Strugglers share spoils
Monday, October 28, 2002
Article summary
Phil Babb's own goal rescued a draw for Bolton Wanderers FC against Sunderland AFC on Monday night.
Article body
An own goal from Phil Babb rescued a 1-1 draw for Bolton Wanderers FC in their basement match against fellow strugglers Sunderland AFC in a tight English Premiership game at the Reebok stadium tonight.
Gray spectacular
Sunderland lost goalkeeper Thomas Myhre and midfield player Claudio Reyna to early injuries but went ahead when Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was powerless to stop Michael Gray's spectacular left-footed effort from 18 metres on the stroke of half-time.
Babb agony
The goal looked like giving Howard Wilkinson his first win as Sunderland manager. However, ten minutes from time Sunderland failed to clear a long throw and the ball skidded off Republic of Ireland defender Babb's head and into his own net to give Bolton a point, although they stay bottom of the table, with eight points from ten games. Sunderland are a point ahead of them in 19th.
