PAINT-BALLING, raft-building and "toilet racing" were on the itinerary today as Wanderers headed for the Lake District after suffering a second successive confidence-denting Reebok defeat.

The two-day event - known to desk jockeys from the corporate world as team building - will give Sam Allardyce the first chance to assess the extent of the damage Sunderland inflicted on Saturday with their smash and grab raid.

There was no disguising the bitter disappointment as Wanderers reflected on the missed penalty and two late goals that cost them three more home points to add to those Southampton burgled a fortnight earlier.

And there is no question that, after their flying start, they have been hit hard by the painful reality of Premiership football. Take your chances or suffer the consequences.

But Allardyce is determined not to let things fester and has no intention of kicking his own men when they are down.

The manager's guidance is vital at times like this and, in that respect, Big Sam has manfully taken the strain.

Rather than criticise Per Frandsen for the missed penalty opportunity - his bouncy run-up lacked conviction and his shot did not have the power to beat fellow Denmark international Thomas Sorensen - he praised the save and admitted it was his decision to nominate the midfielder after Dean Holdsworth had grabbed the ball and confidently placed it on the spot.

"It was my decision and we can see now it was the wrong one," he confessed. "I hold my hands up."

But Frandsen was successful with the only two penalties Wanderers were awarded last season - against Burnley on the opening day and in the first leg of their play-off semi-final at West Brom - and who is to say that Holdsworth would have beaten the giant Sorensen who was in inspired form?

It was the defining moment of the game. Wanderers lost their impetus and Sunderland found fresh motivation.

Statistically, the Wearsiders only secured the points when Jody Craddock came from nowhere to get a glancing header to Julio Arca's cross seven minutes from time. But, in essence, it was over as a contest six minutes earlier when Kevin Kilbane flicked on Arca's corner and Kevin Phillips pounced to force the ball past the unlucky Jussi Jaaskelainen for his 100th goal in league football.

Wanderers had come back at Arsenal in even more difficult circumstances but Reid's Black Cats had worked so hard to stay in the game they were not going to surrender their lead. It was one bodyblow too many.

Most disappointing - at least from the manager's point of view - was the fact that the two goals came from set-plays. Reid was delighted, of course, with the two special deliveries from the Argentine Arca but one man's meat is poison to another.

But again, instead of being critical (in public at least) Allardyce reflected on how effective and well-organised his defence had been in previous Premiership tests.

However, he is worried that, despite their flying start and still rather lofty position, there is a trend developing. For all their efforts at Blackburn and Arsenal where they gained bonus points, they have again failed at the Reebok and it is home wins they need if they are to survive.

The consolation - and it must not be under-estimated or under-valued - is that, as against Southampton, they proved on Saturday that they are not out of place in the Premiership.

Reid was justified in his admission that "the better team lost". Sorensen, back after a four match absence with a broken nose, had to be in outstanding form while Phillips and Niall Quinn, an often formidable partnership, got little change out of Gudni Bergsson and Mike Whitlow until that decisive 77th minute strike. By that point Wanderers thought Sunderland should have been down to 10 men, arguing that if Ricardo Gardner had to be sent off for his "featherweight" push on Dennis Bergkamp at Highbury then Michael Gray should have walked for tugging the Jamaican's shirt. David Elleray duly awarded the penalty but strangely, considering he only had the keeper to beat, did not think the Sunderland captain had denied Gardner a goalscoring opportunity.

Jermaine Johnson was another plus. Even in the first half half when the two sides served up the sloppiest 45 minutes Premiership action Bolton fans have witnessed this season, the young Jamaican thrilled the Reebok regulars on his first home appearance as he had the fans who saw him make such an impressive debut at Arsenal seven days earlier.

The 21-year-old midfielder from Tivoli Gardens reckoned he had to cope with stage fright but he played without fear, looked supremely confident on the ball, was always positive and linked well on the right with his fellow international and new club team-mate, Gardner.

But, as Frandsen and Gardner were to discover to their cost, his chance of glory was thwarted by the presence of Sorensen.

Sunderland ended the day level with Wanderers on 12 points but, as accustomed as they now are to the demands of the Premiership, it is reasonable to assume they will use the victory as a stepping stone to better things, easing somewhat the pressure Reid has been under recently from certain sections of the crowd at the Stadium of Light.

For Allardyce there is the task of ensuring the advantage and the confidence his side has gained in the early weeks of the season are not eroded.

The "glass-half-empty" brigade are now pointing to the fact that they are without a win in five games - three points from a possible 15.

The manager has a more positive perspective although he knows Wanderers cannot afford to be caught out at the back too often and will need more of a cutting edge in attack - particularly at home - if they are to continue to keep their heads above the relegation waters.

But for now he is determined not to add to the pressures.