AFTER a season in which the league table has read like a misery memoir for the northeast — each chapter more tragic than the one preceding it — a finish as the region’s top dog scarcely qualifies as roaring success. If anything, it would be the Premier League equivalent of being half an inch taller than everyone else in Lilliput.

Sunderland, however, are past caring about appearances. Ricky Sbragia is grateful for small mercies, such as the jewel of a point his side took from the Reebok. It came courtesy of a one-handed, elastic save from his goalkeeper, Marton Fulop, in the last seconds of stoppage time, that shut out Gary Cahill.

In one sweet, dreamy moment, Fulop — diving to his right to claw down Cahill’s close-range header — might have ensured Sunderland’s safety. Seismologists certainly didn’t need sophisticated equipment to register the tremor that ran along the North Sea coast, from the Humber to the Tees and on to the Tyne, when he made it at 4.50pm yesterday. The vibration was strong enough to crack the earth beneath the feet of Messrs Shearer, Southgate and Brown. Particularly for Newcastle and Middlesbrough, who meet at St James’ Park tomorrow, this result is like an axe blow. Sbragia nevertheless won’t be watching the derby. “I’ll go down to the pub instead,” he said afterwards. “The pub I go to doesn’t have a TV.”

Recently Sbragia turned to the noble art in an effort to galvanise his team. He brought in Olympic bronze medallist and Sunderland fan, Tony Jeffries, to talk about translating the pugilist’s spirit. The light-heavyweight showed his willing pupils the basics of how to deliver, dodge and absorb punches.

It worked. There was a more resilient and belligerent streak in Sunderland, who scrapped well. On balance, Sunderland might even have beaten Bolton, who didn’t seriously pressurise Fulop until his implausible rescue act.

Perhaps predictably, the match was attritional rather than artistic. With the onus on them, Sunderland probed and pressed in search of an open door through Bolton’s defence. In a tame response Bolton hit long, optimistic passes in the forlorn expectation of forcing an error.

The first glimmer of a chance ought to have brought the breakthrough. Kenwyne Jones scrambled the ball towards the unmarked Kieran Richardson, who looked astonished to receive it. He lifted his shot over the bar from 12 yards.

Richardson twice almost atoned. When Sunderland discomforted Bolton again — a through-header from Jones catching them hopelessly adrift — he fastened on to it and struck his effort solidly in one swift movement, grimacing in frustration as it cleared the angle of post and bar by a foot. Next, it took an impeccable piece of judgment from Gavin McCann to deny him. As Richardson swept through for a personal duel against Jussi Jaaskelainen, the Bolton goalkeeper, McCann pedalled back and slid an outstretched leg into the tackle. With the dexterity of a pickpocket swiping a wallet, he stole possession from him.

To describe Bolton as fitting snugly into 13th place sounds more like an insult than a compliment. But it emphasises just how far Gary Megson has carried them. This time last year Bolton appeared Championship-bound.

Before Cahill nearly altered the outcome, Bolton made Sunderland sweat only briefly. First, Mark Davies seemed sure to hit the target before spooning a drive into the front row. Second, Mustapha Riga bundled a messy shot into the crowd. Whenever Bolton pressed, Calum Davenport ran, covered and blocked them as if his very life hinged on the outcome.

“We showed no fear and a lot of composure,” said a relieved Sbragia. “The save was brilliant. But, frankly, we’d have been gutted to lose.”

Star man: Calum Davenport (Sunderland)

Yellow cards: Bolton: Cohen, Davies.

Referee: R Styles.

Attendance: 24,005

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen 7, Steinsson 7, A O’Brien 7, Cahill 8, Samuel 7, K Davies 7, McCann 7, Muamba 7, Cohen 7 (M Davies 45min, 7), Taylor 7, Elmander 7 (Riga 67min).

SUNDERLAND: Fulop 8, Bardsley 7, Davenport 9, Ferdinand 7, Collins 7, Whitehead 7, Tainio 7 (Reid 80min), Malbranque 7, Leadbitter 8, Richardson 8, Jones 7 (Cisse 73min).