Played
September 1, 2012 3:00 PM BST
Liberty Stadium — Swansea
Referee:‬ R. East‎
Attendance:‬ 20350‎
 
Top of the Match
Nathan Dyer
Nathan Dyer
Swansea City
Michu
Michu
Swansea City
Flop of the Match
Ashley Williams
Ashley Williams
Swansea City
Chico
Chico
Swansea City

Swansea City 2-2 Sunderland: 10-man hosts complete comeback after Fletcher double

The former Wolves man made a splash on his Premier League debut for the Black Cats but the home side pegged them back and held on, despite Chico's reckless sending-off

By Matt Scott

EPL - Swansea City v Sunderland, Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson
Getty Images

Swansea's winning start to the season was checked by Sunderland after the sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Liberty Stadium.


After a dull opening half an hour, Steven Fletcher latched on to Ashley Williams' slack back-pass to strike on his league debut but Wayne Routledge's thumping effort equalised just six minutes later before the Scot bundled home a second just before the half-time whistle.

After intense second-half pressure the home side equalised through Michu and managed to hold on to a point, despite Chico's sending off.

Michael Laudrup's side were unchanged from their 3-0 win over West Ham last time out in the league while the Black Cats gave Premier League debuts to Fletcher and Adam Johnson.

The Swans dominated the early going without threatening, but were dealt a blow after 20 minutes as Neil Taylor was forced off with a nasty-looking ankle injury picked up in a challenge with Craig Gardner, and was replaced by youngster Ben Davies.

BETTING LATEST
25/1 Swansea are 25/1 to win the 2012-13 League Cup with Paddy Power

Both sides struggled to find a breakthrough and Sunderland were forced into a change of their own after 38 minutes as Lee Cattermole was replaced by David Meyler after picking up a dead leg in a clash with Routledge.

With the game meandering towards half-time the away side struck out of nowhere, Williams attempted a first-time back-pass to Vorm but only scuffed his effort into the path of Fletcher who raced towards goal and finished coolly past the Dutchman.

The game suddenly sprang into life and after James McClean volleyed over the Swans found themselves level. After a patient build-up on the edge of Sunderland's area, Nathan Dyer sprung into life, chipping a delightful ball into the path of Routledge who smashed past Simon Mignolet.

Six minutes of added time had been added on due to the game's injuries and it was enough time for the Black Cats to regain the lead. Chico looked to clear Sebastian Larsson's deep free-kick to the back post but he was charged down by Fletcher and the ball was bundled in by a combination of the two players.

The Swans came out for the second half on the attack, Leon Britton hit an effort over from eight yards from a well-worked corner before Mignolet was called upon to keep out a fierce Dyer effort at his near post.

Laudrup's side continued pushing on and went close again on the hour. Mignolet could only palm Jonathan de Guzman's free-kick into the path of Angel Rangel but the Belgian recovered well to keep the right-back's follow-up out and the ball was cleared.

Michu was then guilty of wasting a gilt-edged chance, the Spaniard heading into the ground and over from 10 yards when it looked easier to score, but the former Raye Vallecano man soon made up for his miss.

De Guzman was given too much room deep in midfield and swung a perfect ball onto the head of Michu who planted his headed effort past Mignolet for a richly deserved Swans equaliser.

Martin O'Neill responded by replacing the tiring Fletcher with Louis Saha and the Frenchman was immediately into the thick of the action as Chico made a wild, head-high lunge at the Frenchman, and was sent off, despite making minimal contact.

Michael Laudrup brought on Alan Tate for Routledge in order to shore up the defence, with just under 15 minutes remaining in the match.

The Swans controlled the game out for much of the rest of the match and could have snatched a point as Michu scrambled an effort in the six-yard box but the Black Cats held out for a point.



Swansea City

1
Michel Vorm
Goalkeeper
2.50
3
Neil Taylor
Defender
20′
2.50
4
Chico
Defender
71′
2.00
6
Ashley Williams
Defender
55′
1.50
22
Ángel Rangel
Defender
3.00
7
Leon Britton
Midfielder
2.50
9
Michu
Midfielder
66′ 78′
3.50
12
Nathan Dyer
Midfielder
46′
4.00
15
Wayne Routledge
Midfielder
46′ 73′
3.50
20
3.00
10
Danny Graham
Striker
2.00

Sunderland

3.00
22
Simon Mignolet
Goalkeeper
3.00
16
John O'Shea
Defender
3.50
24
3.00
6
Lee Cattermole
Midfielder
38′
2.50
7
2.00
8
Craig Gardner
Midfielder
23′
2.00
14
Jack Colback
Midfielder
2.50
11
Adam Johnson
Midfielder
2.00
23
James McClean
Midfielder
2.50
28
3.50
26

Substitutes

25
 - 
5
Alan Tate
Defender
73′
2.50
33
Ben Davies
Defender
20′
3.00
24
Sung-Yong Ki
Midfielder
78′
 - 
26
Kemy Agustien
Midfielder
 - 
17
 - 
19
Luke Moore
Striker
 - 

Substitutes

 - 
20
 - 
27
 - 
19
2.50
18
David Meyler
Midfielder
38′
2.00
25
 - 
10
2.00
8
Louis Saha
Striker
68′

Coach/Manager

-
 - 

Coach/Manager

 - 
-
 
  • Goal
  • Own Goal
  • Penalty
  • Penalty Missed
  • Yellow Card
  • Assist
  • Penalty Save
  • Penalty Shootout Goal
  • Penalty Shootout Miss
  • Yellow Card / Red Card
  • Red Card
  • Substitution IN
  • Substitution OUT
  • Injury
  • Goal.com Rating
  • Goal.com Man of the Match
  • Goal.com Flop of the Match
  • Top & Flop Global Ranking
  • Fans' Man of the Match
  • Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Manchester United
25 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool
23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham
20 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa
19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City
19 0