SUNDERLAND CLAIMED three points against Swansea City despite being on the back foot for much of the game.
Stephane Sessegnon opened the scoring after 14 minutes before substitute Craig Gardner secured the points five minutes from time.
Martin O`Neill named the same XI defeat at Chelsea a week ago, resisting the temptation to include the fit-again. Michael Turner who feature from the bench at Stamford Bridge.
Swansea included Josh McEachran on the bench for the first time whilst fellow loan signing Gylfi Sigurdsson started in the centre of midfield.
Seb Larsson had the Black Cats first decent opportunity when he thrashed a right-footed volley against the base of the far-post from a left-wing cross.
The Swans responded through Scott Sinclair who side-footed narrowly over following Nathan Dyer’s centre from the right flank.
Sundrlad did take the lead after 14 minutes though. Following beautiful build-up play, Sessegnon ghosted in from the left before looping a cute effort into the top right-hand corner.
Half-time: 1-0
Swans debutant Sigurdsson saw a good chance saved well by Simon Mignolet after the break, the Belgian diving full-length to palm away the Icelander’s free-kick.
That chance was as good as it got for Brendan Rodgers’ side though and with five minutes left on the clock, the win was secured.
Nonchalantly collecting Sessegnon’s cross-field ball, Gardner sent an inch-perfect right-footed volley over Swans stopper Michel Vorm and into the right-hand corner of the net from fully 20 yards.
Full-time: 2-0
Another excellent victory for the Black Catswh who march into the top-half to boot.
Swansea might have had nearly 70% of the possession, but possession is only nine tenths of the law and the final tenth is of course, taking your chances, something O’Neill’s side proved particularly adept at today.
Sunderland:Mignolet, Bardsley, O`Shea, Brown, Richardson; Larsson (Elmohamady), Cattermole (c), Vaughan (Gardner), McClean; Sessegnon; Bendtner (Wickham).
Subs not used: Turner, Ji, Meyler & Westwood (gk).
Swansea City: Vorm; Rangel, Caulker, Williams, Taylor; Britton (Routledge), Allen, Sigurdsson (McEachran); Dyer, Graham & Sinclair.
Subs not used: Monk, Moore, Tremmel (gk), Augustien & Richards.
Attendance: 36 904
Referee: Mr C Foy.
I thought your manager out thought ours today. An excellent tactical performance from you and in Sessegnon, you have a gem. Hold onto him if you can. As you say, possession means nothing without goals. Well played and Good Luck for the season. A Swans fan.