Sunderland 1-1 Swansea City: Defoe Earns Black Cats First Point

A much improved performance from Sunderland helped them earn their first point of the season as Jermain Defoe’s goal cancelled out Gomis’s opener.

There was very little between the two teams in the opening half hour with neither team threatening the opposing goal, however Sunderland had a much greater intensity from last week’s shocker against Norwich.

Chances were limited in the first half with Shelvey and Naughton shooting from range but neither threatened Pantilimon. Sunderland registered their first shot on target on 35 mins through a Danny Graham overhead kick but Fabianski wasn’t really troubled.

However all of Sunderland’s good work was undone on the stroke of half time as Bafetimbi Gomis put Swansea ahead after a mis-communication in defence. Van Aanholt and O’Shea stepped up leaving Coates alone with Gomis who slid the ball home after being fed by Naughton.

It was a much better first half performance from the Black Cats after last week but they still found themselves a goal behind after switching off at the back.

Swansea could have taken a two goal lead on 51 mins after Andre Ayew hit the post from a free header. Sunderland were sleeping at the corner which Swansea took short and Shelvey’s cross found Ayew who headed against the post.

Sunderland were struggling now and Ayew had another free header five minutes later which went narrowly wide.

Just as Sunderland looked like conceding another they found an equaliser on 62 mins from Jermain Defoe. Danny Graham picked up the loose ball, he played it to Lens who slid Defoe in on goal with a beautiful through ball and the Englishman finished well into the bottom corner.

Sunderland were enjoying a good spell now and they had a big penalty shout as Rodwell’s shot from the edge of the box struck Williams on the arm but the referee waved play on.

The Black Cats could’ve taken the lead on 69 mins after Lens drove to the byline and his cut back found Fletcher on the six yard box but he couldn’t get enough contact as he was sliding.

Sunderland had to be thankful to Pantilimon for keeping the scores level on 74 mins. Montero’s cross found Gomis whose header looked to be flying into the net but the big Romanian managed to claw the ball away from goal.

Sunderland could’ve nicked all three points at the end but Coates headed off target and two free kick opportunities went begging.

Sunderland (4-3-3): Pantilimon, Van Aanholt, Jones, Coates, O’Shea (c), Cattermole, M’Vila, Rodwell, Lens (Larsson 90’), Defoe (Watmore 86’), Graham (Fletcher 66’).

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

Goals: Defoe (62’)

Swansea City (4-2-3-1): Fabianski, Taylor, Naughton, Williams (c), Fernandez, Cork, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Montero, Ayew, Gomis (Eder 76’).

Subs: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Bartley, Britton, Routledge, Dyer, Eder.

Goals: Gomis (45+2’)