AFTER Sunderland’s start to the season, Jeremain Lens could be forgiven for thinking that even war-torn Ukraine was a better prospect than Wearside.

Two games down, without a point and seemingly without a hope, the Black Cats had been written off by many. But, to his credit, the Dutchman does not regret his move from Dynamo Kiev to Dick Advocaat’s side, and went on to play a starring role in Sunderland’s first point of the season at home to Swansea City on Saturday.

For the winger, the 1-1 draw - in which he set up Jermain Defoe for the equaliser after Bafetimbi Gomis opened the scoring for the Swans - felt like a building block, a fresh page.

“I don’t think like that,” said Lens, when asked whether he harboured regrets over making his £8m summer move. “I will always fight for good results whatever the circumstances, but as a team we need to build something.

“For sure, in the future, I believe we will have a good team here and we’ll pick up points. That is my mentality.

“It feels like the start. From this point, we can begin building something and everyone has to remember what we did in this game when we next play. Now we need to move forward. Hopefully we will bring the same qualities into our next games and with a bit more luck score more goals.

“Everyone can see that today was very different from the opening games. The fighting spirit was different, we tried to improve every aspect and it was there to see in the result. Over the whole game, I thought we were the better team.”

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.

Sunderland were on level terms on the hour mark when Defoe, who was asked to play a right-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.

Sunderland were applauded off the pitch, and with Lens replaced moments before the whistle to allow Seb Larsson to take a late free-kick, the Dutchman was given a rousing reception by the home supporters.

Lens said: “I have only played three games, so it’s quite easy to say it’s my best for the club. I showed my quality, I hope, and for sure you will see more of it in the games ahead and hopefully more goals from me.

Everyone is happier when you perform like that. The fans were a little bit disappointed last week, but we showed them that we can play good football, that we can fight. That’s what we want, every game and that’s what they want, too.

“When I came off, it was lovely hearing the crowd applauding me. It was the first time I’ve heard that at Sunderland. I’m sure in the future we will see the same.”