Swansea vs Sunderland: Fletcher brace helps Black Cats hold Swans
Steven Fletcher's first goals for Sunderland ended Swansea's 100% start to the Premier League season in a dramatic 2-2 Liberty Stadium draw marred by a serious ankle injury to Neil Taylor.
Fletcher started to repay his big-money fee following his move from Wolves as he struck twice in the first half, either side of Wayne Routledge's effort for Swansea.
Michu scored his fourth goal in three games for the hosts to level matters but they then lost defender Chico Flores to a red card for a wild high challenge as the game ended all square.
But prior to all that action, Taylor had already been carted off on a stretcher after his leg buckled awkwardly under him following a challenge with Craig Gardner.
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The incident could barely have come at a worse time for Swans boss Michael Laudrup, just a day after the transfer window closed.
Buoyed by their excellent recent form Swansea had started with purpose and Routledge had a penalty appeal turned away while Nathan Dyer had a shot saved by Simon Mignolet.
But they were dealt a terrible blow by Taylor's injury after 16 minutes. The Team GB left-back required prolonged treatment and was given oxygen as he received treatment on his ankle.
The home crowd were furious that Gardner was not punished over the incident by referee Roger East, making his Premier League debut, but there appeared to be no malice from the Sunderland player.
John O'Shea did little to help matters by choosing to try to put his viewpoint across to spectators near the incident.
The atmosphere was muted following Taylor's departure although the hosts continued to press, with Dyer again being denied by Mignolet.
Swansea had benefited from defensive errors in their wins over QPR and West Ham but they were hurt by a mistake of their own five minutes before the break.
Ashley Williams stubbed his back pass into the ground and Fletcher ran in on goal to despatch a superb low finish beyond Michel Vorm.
Swansea levelled as six minutes of stoppage time began. Dyer and Routledge, who have started the campaign brilliantly, linked again as the former's scooped pass allowed the latter to flash home a volley.
But parity did not last to the interval as Sebastian Larsson's free-kick evaded everyone apart from Fletcher, who tapped home at the back post to give the visitors the half-time lead.
Mignolet pushed away a Dyer volley after more excellent build up play from the hosts while Leon Britton volleyed over from a rehearsed corner routine shortly after the break.
The ill-feeling between the sides had been bubbling under the surface since Taylor's injury but Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill was apoplectic when Flores escaped punishment for a studs-up lunge on James McClean with the home side then ignoring the stricken player by carrying on despite the Wearsiders urging them to put the ball out.
Mignolet did brilliantly to get down to a Jonathan de Guzman free-kick moments later after Gardner, already on a booking for a first-half tackle on Routledge, fouled Danny Graham.
Michu came close to adding to his tally as his header into the ground from De Guzman's cross bounced up and just over the bar.
But the same combination found the leveller on 66 minutes, De Guzman's delivery was again pinpoint and Michu's powerful header gave Mignolet no chance.
Swansea's comeback efforts were stymied when Flores then saw red for a wild high-footed challenge that grazed substitute Louis Saha's head.
Despite the numerical disadvantage Swansea dominated the final 18 minutes but could not find the winner that would have taken them top of the Premier League.
Comments
by muffinman235
Sunday, September 02 2012, 9:51AM
“Chico was lucky not to be carded in the game against West Ham, and as a proffesional footballer, should know better. As Alan Shearer said on MOTD, he needs to cool it, or he will be picking up more red cards through the season,and turning into a liability. We could end up with another Joey Barton. Alan Tate did a great job yesterday, and saved the bacon at the end. ML needs to look at keeping AT and GM as he will need them now that Neil Taylor has picked up a nasty injury.”
by Philcwmavon
Saturday, September 01 2012, 11:13PM
“'Clearly' nothing.
My eyes did not see a smidgen of malice.
It was reckless and deserving of his punishment for that reason alone.
Acting should be punishable retrospectively.No contact was made in the incident;if it had,he would have held his head,not pretending to blanket his eyes as he awaits a red card to be shown.”
by Pottedrengen
Saturday, September 01 2012, 9:34PM
“It's the intent not the result which is the decisive factor in whether or not a player should be punished according to the laws of the gamer. Chico clearly kicked at Saha with no intention of going for the ball, so it was a correct decision to send him off.”
by DanEGraig
Saturday, September 01 2012, 8:37PM
“Another big issue today at the Liberty was the pitch side electronic advertising. From high up it may look effective but it is very distracting down at pitch level and the idiot in charge always seemed to set it flashing when we were in possession trying to build an attack. On the TV they warn viewers when there is flash photography in a report because they know that at certain frequencies, flashes can trigger epileptic fits in susceptible people. In my opinion the continued flashing today was very close to be being dangerous and any changes in these displays should only be made when the ball is out of play. Like the flashy splashy club web site, this makes us look pretty amateurish. We are a football club, not a disco.”
by DanEGraig
Saturday, September 01 2012, 8:29PM
“From where I was sitting, further up the touchline in the West Stand, it looked like Chico did not make contact, but Saha immediately put both hands to his face and went down. To be honest at the speed of this incident if Chico had actually made contact then Saha's face would have been in the third row. Having said that it was very rash to have a foot that high and it was probably a yellow card. Red card was a bit harsh. The referee was petty useless right through the game. Hope Tatey takes his chance and becomes the regular pairing with Ash. Also I was pretty close to the Taylor incident, the Sunderland player seemed to have had his fore arm around Neil's throat and pulled back as they went down and Taylors leg was unable to the slip free and got twisted. Sort of an accident, but it was a rough bit of play. Hope Neil makes a swift recovery !”
by Hadoken6773
Saturday, September 01 2012, 6:29PM
“As far as I know, Chico did not kick him in the head and saha faked the injury to get him sent off.
Bad tackle, but a red card due to another faking a reaction is a sad state of affairs and brought shame on Sunderland as a club.
We were all over them, Williams gave away a silly goal, but he is usually so solid we have to cut him slack over it and we did well to hang on with ten men, in fact, we were the better team even with ten men.
Free goal due to a bad back pass.
Neil Tailor broken ankle or thereabouts.
Ten men for over 30 minutes due to a cheating Sunderland player faking the injury.
All in all I would say it turned out well when you consider those 3 critical things that happened against us.
We were not outplayed today, which is the main thing. We drew due to bad fortune.”