Swansea City vs Sunderland. Premier League.
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Swansea 3-0 Sunderland: Fernando Llorente scores twice to lift Swans out of drop zone
Saturday 10 December 2016 18:13, UK
Swansea moved out of the relegation zone after Fernando Llorente struck twice in a 3-0 home victory over Sunderland.
The result lifted Bob Bradley's side out of the relegation zone, with David Moyes' Black Cats dropping to the bottom of the Premier League table.
Gylfi Sigurdsson broke the deadlock from the penalty spot six minutes into the second half, after Jason Denayer was adjudged to have handled Wayne Routledge's delivery.
Fernando Llorente doubled the advantage just three minutes later, sweeping home from Sigurdsson's corner with a deft, close-range finish.
And Llorente made the game safe 10 minutes from time by connecting with Jefferson Montero's left-wing cross and heading past Jordan Pickford.
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Unsurprisingly, there were five changes made by Bradley in the wake of last weekend's 5-0 defeat at Tottenham.
The first half was a scrappy affair, however, with neither side done any favours by the heavy rain pre-match which continued to fall once the action was underway.
Jermain Defoe went close for the visitors on 20 minutes after being picked out by strike partner Victor Anichebe, while Jordi Amat should have done better with a 38th-minute header that he glanced over.
Sunderland almost went in front on the stroke of half time as Lamine Kone's effort flew inches off target, before the game finally sprung into life on 51 minutes when Swansea were awarded a penalty.
Denayer was unable to get his arm out of the way as Routledge attempted to deliver a cross, allowing Sigurdsson to drill a spot-kick straight down the middle, giving Pickford no chance.
Only a stunning save from the Sunderland goalkeeper somehow kept out Modou Barrow after he had been put through by an excellent Sigurdsson pass.
But Pickford was powerless to prevent Llorente doubling the hosts advantage; the striker firing in from inside the box.
Sigurdsson and the impressive Leon Britton, back in the starting line-up for his 474th Swansea appearance, were now pulling all the strings as Swansea continued to dominate.
Sunderland were almost back in it midway through the half when Defoe placed a low shot just wide from the edge of the area.
However, the outcome was put beyond all doubt in the 80th minute as Routledge released Montero on the left and Llorente made no mistake with a fine header.
Player ratings
Swansea City: Fabianski (7), Rangel (7), Mawson (7), Amat (8), Taylor (7), Fulton (7), Sigurdsson (8), Britton (9), Barrow (8), Routledge (8), Llorente (8).
Used subs: Montero (7), McBurnie (6).
Sunderland: Pickford (7), Jones (6), Van Aanholt (5), Djilobodji (4), Kone (6), Pienaar (5), Denayar (4), Ndong (5), Larsson (5), Anichebe (6), Defoe (5).
Used subs: Janizaj (5), Kirchoff (5), Manquillo (4).
Man-of-the-match: Leon Britton.