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Sunderland 0 Bolton Wanderers

Howard Wilkinson, the FA's former technical director and, as such, the spiritual leader of England's coaching fraternity, was spurned like a false prophet this week, after just five months as manager of Sunderland. Yet, as the faithful hailed his successor Mick McCarthy, their third manager in this most dispiriting of seasons, they recognised that they need him to be a saviour of almost biblical proportions if their club is to emerge from the wilderness.

He may have brought renewed pride to the Republic of Ireland and confronted Roy Keane head-on in a battle of wills. But somehow you suspect that maintaining Premiership football with the football-fanatical principality of Wearside represents a challenge that even he will find beyond him.

This defeat, the 19th of a wretched campaign – and Sam Allardyce's team fully merited their win incidentally – leaves the Wearsiders 10 points behind Bolton. Safety now is surely a chasm that even McCarthy cannot bridge. It is significant that bookmakers are already offering odds on Sunderland's title chances next season. Champions of the First Division, that is.

McCarthy conceded afterwards that his men were down, although he immediately clarified: "I don't mean down, as in relegated, I mean down emotionally." He added: "It was going to be one of two things today: win and move on to West Ham next week on a wave of optimism, or get a reality check. Unfortunately, we got the latter. But as long as there's life in us, we've got to believe we can do it."

Except for a period just before half-time, this was an ominously facile victory for the visitors, whose cosmopolitan side must be one of the most attractive Premiership relegation-strugglers in recent years. The deft touches of the Nigerian midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha, Wanderers' cult figure, are more those of a man whose team is destined for honours than the drop.

A confidence also surges through his team-mates, in contrast to Sunderland's men. With the exception of the industrious Kevin Phillips, they appear resigned to their fate as the new manager tries to repair the ravages of a season which has produced just four Premiership victories.

McCarthy's arrival on the pitch, five minutes before the start, brought renewed power to the vocal chords of the Sunderland followers. In the past few weeks they had not only grown silent but voted against the previous regime in the most damning manner. Staying at home. "I never thought I'd get a reception like that," McCarthy reflected. "It's a nice way to be greeted at a football club. Hopefully, there'll be more like that – for all of us."

In one sense McCarthy must have immediately felt in a familiar environment. There are a dozen Irish players at Sunderland. The problem was that two – Jason McAteer and Kevin Kilbane – were notable absentees yesterday, along with Jodie Craddock and Gavin McCann. Not an auspicious set of circumstances in which to make your return to club football after a seven-year gap.

McCarthy, in charge of his first club game since 3 February 1996, when Millwall lost 2-0 at Southend, is a far more visually inspiring figure than Wilkinson. The man from Barnsley was immediately out of the dugout, dispensing a tactical point to Steven Wright.

Yet, no manager, you feel, would easily harness the individuals McCarthy has at his disposal into a productive force. In the first half the principal source of optimism originated from high balls to the head of Tore Andre Flo, but to precious little effect. Worryingly for McCarthy, a speculative drive from Darren Williams, which failed to trouble Jussi Jaaskelainen, a Flo effort saved by the Finn and a rising drive over the bar by Sean Thornton, were the sum of Sunderland's attempts before the interval.

In that first half Wanderers came close to increasing the already significant stress on the new manager when the Frenchman Bernard Mendy capitalised on a loose ball from Sunderland's captain, Michael Gray, and was denied by a fine save from Thomas Sorensen. And only five minutes had elapsed in the second half when Okocha cut in from the left, beat Gray, and scored with a fierce delivery, which Sorensen could only help into the net.

Four minutes later, Wanderers broke again, Mendy unleashing a daisy-cutter through the legs of a defender which Sorensen must have seen late. The goalkeeper palmed the ball away but Henrik Pedersen was swiftest to react, side-footing the rebound into an unguarded net. His manager revealed later that the Dane had played despite a dislocated shoulder.

Thereafter Sunderland fashioned their share of half-chances, but the finishing was that of men who had all but yielded hope. Worst was when Marcus Stewart, a substitute for Flo, pulled the ball back from the goal line for Kevin Kyle to give Sunderland hope. Somehow the Scottish international striker struck the ball against a defender.

Next week promises another relegation dogfight for Sunderland: West Ham away. There are still 24 points to be play for. McCarthy, a man who approaches new causes without trepidation, arrived with the cause looking virtually beyond him. Yesterday, the outlook became worse.

Sunderland 0 Bolton Wanderers 2
Okocha 50, Pedersen 55

Half-time: 0-0 Attendance: 42,124