But former Tottenham striker Defoe, who had pleaded with Advocaat to be played in his preferred central role rather than out on the flanks, repaid his manager’s switch with a cool second half leveller to give Sunderland their first point of the season. Since I have been involved, the good news is that my investment has kept us in the Premier League for nine consecutive seasons.
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Since Swansea’s foray into top flight football in 2011, the teams have been evenly matched; on 5 occasions the spoils have been shared, with Sunderland taking the points on two occasions, and their visitors on one.
“I think it is a little bit unfair to our owner because everybody is jumping on him“, he said. 1-0 to Swansea.
Despite Advocaat’s obvious popularity with the club’s fanbase following his work in turning the club’s fortunes around at the end of last season, last weekend’s defeat to Norwich was met with boos with many fans leaving as early as half-time.
As if Advocaat did not have enough headaches to contend with, Jermain Defoe’s future continues to be the subject of considerable conjecture.
Dick Advocaat claimed Sunderland were denied the chance for victory over Swansea City, adamant Ashley Williams’ handball was “100%” a penalty.
“Jermain has freedom”, Advocaat said, neutralising matters. “It was a handball and I have seen it back on the television and it was a penalty”.
The 67-year-old was nevertheless able to reflect upon a positive afternoon and a telling contribution from Defoe, who this week found himself at the centre of rumours that he had asked for a transfer and was being courted by Bournemouth.
“There is no reason to point the finger and say it is your fault or my fault”. They had cheered their team’s rediscovered fight – although Lee Cattermole, inevitably, could have done without collecting a booking for scything unnecessarily into the back of Ayew – while politely turning a blind eye to Sunderland’s penchant for rather obvious final passes.
Gomis and Andre Ayew delivered the goals in both Swansea’s opening fixtures this season and the Ghana worldwide nearly got in on the act once again when, unmarked, he headed against the left-hand post from a Shelvey delivery.
Meanwhile, out on the flanks, Jeremain Lens has had a decent start to life on Wearside, looking especially good statistically with two assists in as many games, so he’ll stay on the left.
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Sunderland would surely not have recovered from a second goal, but they survived to equalise after 62 minutes with a goal that resembled Swansea’s.
