Sunderland collected a vital three points after defeating Bolton Wanderers 3-1.

Kieran Richardson opened his Sunderland account just 13 minutes into his first start since August, and then fired in the corner which allowed Kenwyne Jones to stretch the lead with a powerful 32nd-minute header.

However, Wanderers grabbed a lifeline four minutes before the break when El-Hadji Diouf drifted a free-kick inside the far post, and despite a late assault, the home side held out.

Keane was delighted after a tense finish in which substitute Daryl Murphy eased the nerves at the death.

He said: "It's nice, it's nice to win. It seems like a while since we have won.

"It wasn't too pretty, but it's a win and the players deserved it.

"We have played a lot better this year and not got a result, but today we just about ground out a good one."

Keane had admitted in the run up to the game that it was a must-win encounter, but said afterwards: "I say that every week.

"As manager of Sunderland, I feel every game is a must-win game, whether it be Manchester United or Bolton or if we were playing Altrincham.

"We try to approach every game (the same) - put it this way, what other way would you approach a game? Must lose? Must draw?

"You must win, that's what you are in the game for."