Sunderland draws with Swansea to grab 1st league point

As if Advocaat did not have enough headaches to contend with, Jermain Defoe’s future continues to be the subject of considerable conjecture.

Until then, Patrick van Aanholt, a liability at left-back in Sunderland’s previous two games, had been much improved but, by allowing himself to be distracted by André Ayew, he consequently afforded Naughton ample room in which to advance.

When Advocaat agreed to perform a U-turn and return to Wearside at the start of the summer, he outlined the need for “four or five quality additions” to owner Ellis Short, and was assured the squad would be significantly strengthened.

For the opening half-hour, Sunderland were unrecognisable from the side who were so tamely swept aside by Leicester and Norwich during the opening two games.

Dick Advocaat claimed Sunderland were denied the chance for victory over Swansea City, adamant Ashley Williams’ handball was “100%” a penalty. Keep playing as they are, and the Welsh club will be hard to stop from winning again here.

Graham got an overhead kick on target for the home side, held by Lukasz Fabianski via a deflection off Jack Cork, but Sunderland were momentarily reduced to 10 men following a clash of heads between Montero and Billy Jones.

The Black Cats had to come from behind after Bafetimbi Gomis had put Swansea ahead in first-half injury time and they also had to be thankful to Costel Pantilimon for a number of good saves after Defoe had struck the equaliser.

The move had been initiated by Andre Ayew, the sharpest outfielder.

A determined Swansea pressed to restore their advantage and Shelvey forced Pantilimon into a diving save with a shot from range, before Sigurdsson did the same moments later. That first 20 minutes of the second half, it was dominance.

SUNDERLAND’S frightful start to the Premier League season just got worse, with the club’s major sponsor Dafabet installing them among the relegation favourites overnight.

“Now you try something, and it’s not working, so we have to go back to the basics and give players a position they can play”.

He certainly could have pushed the ball into a better area than straight to Russell Martin for the first goal, and he’ll be disappointed to be beaten at his near post for the third from Nathan Redmond.

Gomis got to the cross, but his header was kept out by a world class full-length finger-tip save from Pantilimon.

Subs: Mannone, Matthews, Brown, Larsson, Giaccherini, Watmore, Fletcher.