[monks data]

Attendance: 14,915

Championship

Feb 20, 2018 at 8pm UK

Bolton Bolton Wanderers
1-0
Sunderland

Clough (17')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Chris Coleman critical of officials after Sunderland defeat

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 21 February 2018

Sunderland boss Chris Coleman criticises the referee and one of his assistants after the Black Cats suffered a 1-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night.

Sunderland boss Chris Coleman has acknowledged that he had been left frustrated with the officials after witnessing his side lose 1-0 to Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night.

An early effort from Zach Clough proved enough for Bolton, although Coleman was unhappy after the decisive goal came from a throw-in which had been overturned in Bolton's favour.

The result has left Sunderland three points adrift of safety in the Championship table, but Coleman has claimed that the Black Cats did not deserve to suffer defeat at the Macron Stadium.

The 47-year-old is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "We get given a throw-in by the referee but the linesman flags and says it was handball and from the resulting free kick it is handball by one of their players but the goal is given.

"You can't blame us for being slightly frustrated with decisions like that. I thought the referee was indecisive all night. He got it drastically wrong on both counts. It was a bizarre decision.

"I never ever make excuses for my team. If we play badly I will say that but I can't say we deserved to lose that game."

Sunderland are next in action when they host North-East rivals Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon.