DARREN Bent’s goals will do the talking from now on after making himself look a Twit in the summer.
The striker famously launched an X-rated tirade on Internet site Twitter, telling Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to “sort out” his £12million move to Sunderland.
A shame-faced apology followed but it worked a treat and he even admits his rant helped his move to the North East.
Now he is free from Spurs and the tag manager Harry Redknapp gave him when he said wife Sandra could have scored a chance he missed last season.
And all Bent needed was five minutes in his new colours to show exactly what he can do as new boss Steve Bruce got off to a dream start but it should have been so much better, too.
Bent rose above Kevin Davies to head Steed Malbranque’s free-kick into the corner for the only goal of a game Sunderland dominated.
You fear for Bolton on this display, which was totally lacking imagination – even though Sean Davis almost snatched a point.
Redknapp and his wife may disagree but Bent is a natural finisher.
And if he can maintain this form, Bruce, who knows a thing or two about bargains, has a steal on his hands.
The Sunderland boss said: “It’s great when your centre-forward can be off the mark inside five minutes.
“All that hard work that the chairman put in and the hours of negotiations have paid off.
“He’s well worth it, not just for his goals but his appetite, work rate and the boy’s desire to come to the club, which is what got it over the line.”
It should have been game over after only 22 minutes, with the new boy netting a hat-trick.
Instead he had to make do with only one goal, which came in fairly controversial circumstances.
Wanderers were still complaining after Johan Elmander was adjudged to have fouled Malbranque but they were caught cold when George McCartney played it quickly to the Frenchman, whose cross was expertly dispatched by Bent.
The defending summed up Bolton’s showing for long periods – embarrassing.
And Bolton boss Gary Megson couldn’t believe Bent was given so much space.
He said: “We were sluggish. We spoke on Thursday about set-pieces and how important they are.
“We scored 14 goals last season from them and defended 74 wide free-kicks and didn’t concede but within six minutes we did that.
“It was a huge leap from Bent but our defending was nowhere near what I expected in such a crucial area.”
Amazingly, the home side almost snatched a point at the death but Marton Fulop proved the late hero with a point- blank save to keep out Davis’ low drive.
But this was Bent’s day and in a World Cup year, he is already off to a flier.
Never underestimate the power of the Internet.
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