LONDON - Bolton Wanderers illuminated a dull day in the Premier League on Saturday with a 4-1 victory at Sunderland that lifted them to seventh in the standings.

LONDON - Bolton Wanderers illuminated a dull day in the Premier League on Saturday with a 4-1 victory at Sunderland that lifted them to seventh in the standings.

Djibril Cisse gave Sunderland an early lead but Bolton, hot tips for relegation a few games ago, hit back in style with Sweden striker Johan Elmander scoring twice to leave Sunderland in the bottom three.

Fourth-placed Aston Villa drew 0-0 at home to Fulham. Victory would have taken them above Manchester United.

Hull City remained sixth after drawing 1-1 at Stoke City, Ricardo Fuller's penalty earning Stoke a point after Marlon King had given the visitors a glimpse of a fifth away league victory.

Newcastle United edged out of the relegation zone thanks to a goalless draw at north east rivals Middlesbrough while bottom club West Bromwich Albion lost 2-1 at Wigan Athletic and remain four points adrift of fourth-bottom Newcastle.

Second-placed Liverpool, behind Chelsea on goal difference, are at home to West Ham United today. Sunderland's Stadium of Light was largely empty long before the end as Roy Keane's side slumped to a third consecutive home league defeat to leave them mired in relegation trouble.

Cisse's 11th-minute opener was the perfect start for Sunderland but the jitters returned seven minutes later when Matthew Taylor equalised with a header that went in off the bar.

Gary Cahill quickly put Bolton in front and Sunderland's defence then fell apart either side of half-time as Elmander, the visitors' record signing from Toulouse, grabbed a brace.

Bolton's victory leaves them five points from the relegation zone as the Premier League's middle ground remains tightly packed. - Reuters