SUNDERLAND picked up their first point of the season with an improved performance, earning a 1-1 draw at home to Swansea City.

Jermain Defoe’s 62nd minute equaliser earned the Black Cats a share of the spoils after Bafetimbi Gomis had fired the visitors ahead in first-half stoppage time.

It was a fine display from Dick Advocaat’s beleaguered side, who showed they are up for the battle despite the Dutchman suggesting before the game that his side could not compete in the Premier League this season.

A reaction to Sunderland’s meek submission against Norwich last week was required, and the Black Cats, to a man, delivered that in a first-half display of tenacity and grit.

But Sunderland’s excellent first half was undone in a matter of seconds as Swansea took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Gomis collected Kyle Naughton’s through-ball, powered past John O’Shea and slotted home.

It was harsh on the Black Cats who had been tight and compact in the first half, playing with the pace and intensity which kept them in the Premier League last season.

That had been lacking up until the opening exchanges against a Swans side that eased past Newcastle United a week ago.

There were precious few chances in the first 45 minutes, but having seen Sunderland ship seven goals in their opening two games this season, maybe that was no bad thing.

Jefferson Montero fired into the side netting on 42 minutes, after Danny Graham, facing his old club and called upon for the first time this season, volleyed into Lucasz Fabianski’s hands on 35 minutes.

But despite Sunderland’s dogged defending, their backline breached at the worst moment possible, and trudged down the tunnel behind for the third game running this season.

It was almost game over six minutes after the restart when Andre Ayew hit the post with a header from a Shelvey cross, but Sunderland responded well and had the ball in the back of the net when Jeremain Lens slotted home, but the winger was correctly judged offside.

Jack Rodwell, back into the side at the expense of Seb Larsson, rifled over the bar from range after robbing Shelvey in the middle of the park, after Montero had drawn a straightforward save out of Costel Pantilimon moments earlier.

But Sunderland were on level terms on the hour mark when Defoe, who was asked to play a left-wing role for the Black Cats, drifted inside and squeezed his shot past Fabianski when Lens had played a smart ball forward.

Neil Swarbrick waved away Sunderland’s claims for a penalty when Ashley Williams blocked Jack Rodwell’s first time shot with his left hand.

Swans responded well, and Sunderland had Pantilimon to thank for keeping the scores level when he denied Shelvey and then Gylfi Sigurdsson in quick succession on 68 minutes.

Sunderland had the bit between their teeth and Steven Fletcher, on for Graham shortly after the equaliser, failed to connect with Lens’ ball across the face of goal and Swansea cleared.

Pantilimon was to the rescue again when he plucked Gomis’ header from Montero’s cross out of the sky on 74 minutes.

Duncan Watmore, who scored the consolation goal in last week’s 3-1 defeat against Norwich, was given a run-out, and the youngster won a corner in stoppage time, which Sebastian Coates headed over from Lens’ delivery.

Swansea looked brittle at the back, and the Black Cats continued their surge, winning a free-kick when Rodwell was knocked off the ball by Williams on the edge of the area.

Larsson was brought on as Sunderland’s final substitution to take the free-kick, but the Sweden international rifled his effort into the wall, and that was that.

SUNDERLAND (4-3-3): Pantilimon; Jones, Coates, O'Shea, van Aanholt; Rodwell, Cattermole, M'Vila; Defoe (Watmore 86), Graham (Fletcher 67), Lens (Larsson 90). Subs: Mannone, Brown, Larsson, Matthews, Giaccherini, Watmore.
SWANSEA (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Shelvey, Cork; Ayew, Sigurdsson, Montero; Gomis (Eder 76). Subs: Wordfelt, Britton, Dyer, Routledge, Rangel, Bartley.