SUNDERLAND (4-3-3):

8 PANTILIMON: Has been Sunderland’s busiest and best player so far this season and kept them in the game;

6 Jones: Dealt well with Montero, who was off the boil, but kept things simple on the right side of defence

6 Coates: Benefited from the presence of O’Shea in the back four and was no-nonsense in winning and clearing the ball

6 O'Shea: Brought experience and organisation to the defence and they coped markedly better from set-pieces as a result, though his lack of pace was exposed for the goal

6 van Aanholt: A big improvement for the Dutchman, who was a lot more defensively resolute and got up and down the flank well;

6 Rodwell: With two midfielders sitting, Rodwell was given the opportunity to bomb forward and was an effective player in the middle of the park

6 Cattermole: Held the midfield together and kept things basic, playing short passes and not venturing forward

7 M'Vila: Showed his class with a range of passing, and could be a very important player this season for Sunderland;

7 Defoe: Only needs one chance to score which is vital for the Black Cats, and never stopped running

6 Graham: Held up the ball well and brought others into the game, putting in a good shift

7 Lens: Assisted Defoe’s equaliser and was generally bright on either flank

Subs: Fletcher (Graham, 67) – Looked hungry, pressing and chasing, and was unlucky not to score 6

Watmore (Defoe, 86)

Larsson (Lens, 90)

not used: Mannone, Brown, Matthews, Giaccherini

The Northern Echo:

SWANSEA (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 6; Naughton 7, Fernandez 5, Williams 6, Taylor 6; Shelvey 7, Cork 6; Ayew 7, Sigurdsson 8, Montero 7; Gomis 7 (Eder 76). Not used: Wordfelt, Britton, Dyer, Routledge, Rangel, Bartley.

MAN OF THE MATCH

COSTEL Pantilimon – Sunderland may have improved but Pantilimon had a busy day between the sticks, keeping his side in the contest with a string of second-half stops