Bolton Wanderers 2 Sunderland 2: match report Freedman looked like he was willing to sacrifice a cup run when he rested his most senior players such as Kevin Davies, Chris Eagles and Jay Spearing. Given Bolton lie 16th in the championship, it's unclear what they were being preserved for other than the long amble towards the security of a mid-table finish. In contrast, there wasn't seat spare in the Sunderland end and O'Neill selected as close to a full strength side as possible. Logic said they were meant to win. Easily. Step forward Sunderland defender Cuellar to keep the romantics gushing. Bolton were gifted the lead on 13 minutes after Cuellar's horrific error. He inexplicably passed across his own penalty box, straight to Lee. Keeper Simon Mignolet was stranded as the South Korean struck first time into an empty net. O'Neill then lost full-back Danny Rose with what looked like a hamstring injury and his defenders continued to descend to a level somewhere below dishevelled. It used to be said there's a lot more to Titus Bramble. Now there is just a lot of Titus Bramble, the idea of him adding a weighty presence to the Sunderland defence taken rather literally. Having seen Cuellar's calamity, Bramble almost repeated the trick on 35 minutes, colliding with his keeper as both tried to claim a looping ball. It trickled wide. The entertainment value was being elevated by sheer defensive incompetence. Sunderland had some early shots from distance, but their first half lethargy would have made a narcoleptic seem effervescent. Whatever O'Neill said at half-time - and one imagined it to be damning in tone - was undermined three minutes after the restart, when Martin Petrov's corner was dealt with miserably and Sordell rose unchallenged to double the lead. O'Neill then lost another defender, Cuellar, through injury but it was a blessing. It brought Wickham into the action on 60 minutes. He immediately scored with his second touch, volleying past goalkeeper Andy Londergan at the back post after his first attempt was blocked. Fletcher was also denied by two brilliant Lonergan saves, O'Neill's side finally provoked from their slumber and piling incessant pressure on the Bolton box. By the time Gardner hit a thunderous equaliser on 75 minutes there was a certain inevitability about the second goal. O'Neill must have wondered where his side had been for 60 minutes, as they were now dominant. Bolton were now holding on for a replay, O'Neill's demeanour somewhere between relief his side is still in the cup and frustration at his side's initial carelessness.