Match Report: Sunderland AFC 1-2 Swansea City
Mike Dodds’ interim spell in charge of Sunderland started with a 2-1 defeat to Swansea City on Saturday afternoon at the Stadium of Light.
Dodds, who is now in his third spell in interim charge, was given the role until the end of the season, after Michael Beale’s sacking on Monday.
But it was not the reaction that he wanted from the players, as a poor first-half performance allowed the Swans to race into a two-goal lead, thanks to a nine-minute brace from January signing, Ronald.
Luke O’Nien grabbed one back in the 77th minute, but it wasn’t enough to salvage a point, with the Black Cats now eight points away from the top six.
Dodds made four alterations from Beale’s final starting 11, with two enforced and two being his own tweaks. Dan Ballard (suspended) and Jack Clarke (injury) both missed out, as Callum Styles was handed a debut in a system that moved to a back three.
However, from the off, the home team were on the back foot, and as the frustrations continued to climb inside of the Stadium of Light, Luke Williams’ side took the lead.
Liam Cullen’s initial header from Josh Tymon’s cross was only parried into the path of Ronald, who poked a finish past a beaten Anthony Patterson.
Sunderland’s woes worsened as the away side doubled their lead only nine minutes later, as Ronald produced a low, clinical finish into the bottom left corner.
Swansea could have had the game out of sight just after the half-hour mark, as chances continued to come their way.
Ronald’s hat-trick was denied, as his effort rolled narrowly wide of the left post, before Przemyslaw Placheta’s header hit the woodwork.
After a chorus of boos greeted the players’ departure at the half-time break, there was a clear step up in tempo from the hosts; Dodds making tactical and structural changes, moving back to their conventional back-four.
The Black Cats began to up the ante, as they looked for a way back into the contest, with Pierre Ekwah’s looping long-range effort beating Carl Rushworth, but not the crossbar.
And, with 13 minutes left, their second-half efforts were rewarded, as O’Nien prodded Ekwah’s free-kick past Rushworth.
Five minutes of added time almost set up the most spectacular of grandstand finishes, as Sunderland nearly levelled the match, with goalkeeper Patterson’s effort at the death being denied on the goalline by Rushworth.
