Sunderland visited Swansea City last night and with some results featuring other teams on Tuesday not going their way, a positive result was required. The Black Cats began well, scoring an early goal, but Swansea were back on level terms when the referee mistakenly gave a penalty after Andre Ayew had mis-kicked the ball in the area. Kyle Naughton was sent off for Swansea just before Ayew put Swansea in front. Patrick van Aanholt equalised early in the second half before two more goals from Defoe put Sunderland 4-2 up. It was a very eventful game if not necessarily good for the stress levels for those of both sides. Here are the positives from a Sunderland point of view.
Positive team selection
Sam Allardyce gave a clear indication that he wanted to attack and get the positive result everyone connected with Sunderland desperately wanted. He decided to start with a back four: a tactic that can and has caused many a stress level to rise. He played Defoe up front with Jeremain Lens behind and Fabio Borini and Adam Johnson out wide. With these four in the side, goals are always a possibility if they play well. Four goals tonight showed that they can score more than they concede.
Positive from the kick-offs
It was a tactic which resulted in the early goals from Jermain Defoe and Patrick van Aanholt. Many times over the last several seasons Sunderland have been slow to get into the game, allowing the opposition to settle and play their own game. However, tonight the Black Cats started brightly and were rewarded with an early goal. Sunderland could easily have been at least two goals up before Swansea were given a penalty that should never have been to put them on level terms. Unfortunately for Sunderland they conceded again to go into half time behind.
Against ten men, the Black Cats started the second half positively which they had to and they had the lion’s share of possession. Even though the quality was lacking slightly it was no surprise when the equaliser came within a few minutes of the restart. Sunderland had some scares but won the second half and left the field with the victory.
Patrick van Aanholt
Patrick van Aanholt hasn’t had the best of seasons to put it mildly but he played very well against Swansea. Winger Modou Barrow saw a lot of the ball, especially in the first half. His speed and direct play was obviously a tactic deployed by Swansea to unsettle van Aanholt. He stuck to his task well and kept Barrow close to him as much as possible. He also attacked well when possible and deserved his goal at the beginning of the second half.
Hat-trick hero Jermain Defoe
Get the ball to Defoe and he will score. Sam Allardyce has been defending his decision to play Defoe as a lone striker stating that if they can find a way to support the striker and get the ball to him then he is more than capable of scoring goals, as he has shown throughout his career. Five goals in his last two games is proving Allardyce right, and fans will be hoping this kind of form will continue for some time.
The most important positive: three points
This is the main thing to come out of tonight. Sunderland made it hard for themselves, as per usual, but they got what they desperately needed. The confidence this could give them could be invaluable. Two wins from the last two league games is a massive step in the right direction.
Sunderland now face a tough trip to Tottenham, where anything gained will be a bonus, before playing in yet another must-win game when Bournemouth visit the Stadium of Light.
