Barclays Premier League:

Swansea City 2–4 Sunderland

JERMAIN Defoe deepened Swansea’s relegation worries and at the same time, breathed life into Sunderland’s hope of a survival as his hat-trick helped the Black Cats to just their second away win of the season at the Liberty Stadium last night.

But Defoe’s treble doesn’t begin to tell the story of a chaotic 90 minutes, which made for an extremely difficult night for referee Graham Scott and his assistants, with the official taking charge of just his fourth Premier League game after replacing Andre Mariner at short notice.

Going into the clash, Swansea stood 17th in the table, just two places and four points above Sam Allardyce’s side – but those expecting a tight, nervy affair were given anything but in a frantic opening.

Just three minutes in a terrible goal kick from home keeper Lukasz Fabianski fell straight into the path of Adam Johnson, who cut infield and fed Fabio Borini – and after the former Swansea striker’s shot was parried by the Polish stopper, Defoe pounced from close range.

Assistant referee Mike Mullarkey kept his flag down, although replays later showed Defoe to be offside in the act of scoring.

Just seconds later the Swans should have levelled when Wayne Routledge hooked a pass into the path of Andre Ayew – who blazed wastefully over. At the other end, Sunderland left back Patrick Van Aanholt squared for Johnson, who somehow shot wide from point blank range.

The end to end action continued as home winger Modou Barrow, who had his best game yet in a Swansea shirt, combined with Sigurdsson before seeing his low cross deflected wide - and moments afterwards Van Aanholt again surged down the left for the Black Cats, but with Borini in acres of space in the middle, Federico Fernandez cut out the intended pass.

Ayew then headed a Sigurdsson corner wide but on 21 minutes, the same combination drew the Swans level in controversial circumstances. The Ghanaian beat Wes Brown inside the area, but then appeared to miskick before going down under minimal contact from the Sunderland defender.

But Scott pointed to the spot, and Sigurdsson sent Vito Mannone the wrong way from 12 yards.

Barrow then stung the palms of the keeper from 25 yards and seven minutes before the break, came the next major talking point.

Swansea right back Kyle Naughton seemed to take the ball cleanly as he challenged Yann M’Villa, but to his astonishment, Scott called for a foul before issuing a red card. M’Villa’s theatrical reaction ensured a somewhat hostile greeting from the Liberty faithful every time he touched the ball thereafter.

And yet, from the resultant Sunderland free kick, Swansea were ahead as Fabianski gathered Van Aanholt’s long ball and cleared upfield, and Ayew collected the long ball, turned Lee Cattermole and from a tight angle, hammered a low left foot shot into the far corner.

Just moments later Leon Britton, who had again been prominent on his 500th appearance for the home side, made way for Angel Rangel as home boss Alan Curtis looked to shore up his defence following Naughton’s dismissal.

But despite leading at the break, any hopes of a Swansea rearguard win were seemingly wiped out three minutes into the second half, when the influential Van Aanholt cut in from the left and fired a shot that deflected off Fernandez and cannoned in off the post.

The Black Cats continued to press and their numerical advantage almost told again when Borini played in Jermain Lens, whose angled shot was just kept out at the near post by the inside of Fabianski’s foot.

But on 61 minutes, they led again when Johnson played in Defoe, and with the Swans again calling for offside, the striker placed a low shot past Fabianski.

Replays again suggested Defoe was fortunate not to be flagged.

And ironically, the Swans then had a goal ruled out themselves when Mannone fumbled a Sigurdsson effort, and Rangel tapped in only to see his strike, correctly it must be said, disallowed.

The 10-men tried to press and left back Neil Taylor drove a shot wide, before Curtis threw on Bafetimbi Gomis late on to partner Ayew up front.

But with four minutes remaining, it was the Black Cats who wrapped things up and again Van Aanholt was involved, as his low centre was met by Defoe, who bagged his fifth goal in two games for the Black Cats and fifth in three matches against Swansea.

In the dying moments, Gomis tested Mannone from long range, but Sunderland closed out the three points to move to 18th in the Premier League table, just a point adrift of last night’s hosts.

Afterwards, the press conferences of both managers were dominated by questions about the officials.

“I’m disappointed,” said Curtis.

“I don’t like criticising referees, and I’m not going to say he cost us the game because you don’t know how things will pan out, but he got all the major decisions wrong.

“He looked out of his depth unfortunately.”

Curtis added the club would be appealing Naughton’s red card today (Thursday).

His opposite number Allardyce said: “To say that was an interesting game is an understatement.

“We adjusted our tactics at half time, tried to play a high press and force them into mistakes. And in the little man (Defoe) we have someone whose goals can keep us up.

On the referee he said: “He made mistakes for both sides. Both the red card, and the penalty, were very very soft.”

And yet, when the dust settles, Curtis and his players will know that regardless of the officials, this was a highly damaging defeat for the Swans, who have now taken just 11 points in 17 league games after going unbeaten in their opening four of the campaign.

Swansea City: Lukasz Fabianski, Kyle Naughton, Ashley Williams (captain), Federico Fernandez, Neil Taylor, Wayne Routledge (Bafetimbi Gomis 77), Gylfi Sigurdsson, Ki Sung-Yeung, Leon Britton (Angel Rangel 42), Modou Barrow, Andre Ayew (Jack Cork 91).
Subs not used: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Jordi Amat, Marvin Emnes, Jefferson Montero.
 

Sunderland: Vito Mannone, Billy Jones, John  O’Shea, Patrick Van Aanholt, Wes Brown, Lee Cattermole (Jack Rodwell 73), Adam Johnson, Jermain Lens (Duncan Whatmore 86), Yann M’Villa, Jermain Defoe, Fabio Borini (Danny Graham 83).
Subs not used: Jordan Pickford, Sebastian Coates, DeAndre Yedlin, Steven Fletcher.

Referee: Graham Scott.
Assistants: Mike Mullarkey and Marc Perry.
Fourth official: Paul Tierney.
Attendance: 20, 140.