El-Hadji Diouf delivered the perfect farewell present to Bolton with a superb first-half strike to inspire a 2-0 victory which has all but preserved the club's Barclays Premier League status.

The result leaves the Trotters three points clear of the relegation zone and, with Reading and Birmingham both losing earlier in the day, only a heavy defeat in the final game of the season at Chelsea next week would take them down.

Controversial Senegal striker Diouf - who recently declared he will quit the Trotters in the summer regardless of whether they survive in the top flight - fired home right-footed after collecting a deep cross from skipper Kevin Nolan in the 42nd minute.

Diouf controlled the ball expertly with his first touch and his second was lethal as he sidefooted the ball past Gordon and into the roof of the net.

Sunderland substitute Daryl Murphy then headed into his own goal with eight minutes remaining to secure a win which could be valued at around