The home side had the better of the game in fairness with both Smith and defender Craig James going close with the latter being foiled by the Bolton goalkeeper Jeremy Bon with a good block.
Sunderland took the lead on 24 minutes when Smith fired into the top corner from twelve yards having been set up well by defender Chris Scott's centre pass and Wanderers really could not find a way past Black Cats keeper Ben Alnwick.
Sean Thornton had a chance after the break to double the home side's lead but his drive was well saved by Bon. With ten minutes remaining Ricardo Vaz-Te could have got an equaliser for Bolton but the young Portuguese striker saw his header well saved by Alnwick.