Sunderland took full advantage of beating the freeze as they won 1-0 against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday to climb to sixth in the Premier League.
With most of the weekend programme wiped out by heavy snow Sunderland's lunchtime kickoff went ahead -- with Blackburn Rovers against West Ham United the only other survivor.
Sunderland got the breakthrough after 32 minutes when Darren Bent did well to control a deep cross and after his shot was parried by Jussi Jaaskelainen Danny Welbeck threw himself at the rebound to head his fifth goal in six games.
Sunderland had Craig Gordon to thank for keeping them ahead when their goalkeeper brought back memories of one of the club's most famous moments -- Jim Montgomery's amazing save in the 1973 FA Cup final upset win over Leeds United.
After a corner was nodded back across the six-yard box Zat Knight shot goalwards from point-blank range only for Gordon to somehow get a hand to the ball, which was almost past him, and divert it up and over the bar.
Bolton, who started the day in sixth place, two points ahead of Sunderland, pressed hard for the equaliser in the second half and Ivan Klasnic had two great chances in the dying moments but failed to connect properly on both occasions.
Sunderland moved to 27 points, behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur only on goals scored. Bolton drop to seventh on 26.
Manchester United, whose game at Chelsea on Sunday has been postponed because of the weather, lead the way on 34 points although Manchester City could go top if they beat Everton at home on Monday.
