Swansea City 2-3 Sunderland: Swans throw away two-goal lead in frustrating defeat

An afternoon that began so promisingly, ultimately ended in frustration for Swansea City as they threw away a two-goal lead to go down at the hands of promotion-chasing Sunderland at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Having enjoyed some signs of real progress in recent weeks, this was perhaps a stark reminder of the step up that will be required if this team are to make a serious crack at charging for the top six this season.

Zan Vipotnik’s fourth goal of the season and a stunning Liam Cullen freekick looked to have set the tone for what might have gone down as the most impressive of the Williams era.

But the scoreline seldom felt like an accurate representation of a contest that, if we’re honest, Sunderland largely dominated.

Certainly, Dan Ballard’s goal just before half-time didn’t feel like much of a surprise.

But even so, having earned themselves what should have been a commanding position, Luke Williams will likely have been a little alarmed at the way his side crumbled here, albeit against a side firmly in the mix for promotion.

Williams had challenged his team to prove they were worthy of the growing whispers of a top six push by toppling one of the Championship’s big-hitters, having seen them previously edged out by Leeds United and Burnley in recent weeks.

But when Dan Neil rattled in an equaliser and Jobe Bellingham netted what proved to be the winner moments later, it felt like a tough lesson on what will be required for the Swans to muscle their way into the top-six reckoning.

The Swans drop one place to 10th, and are now seven points outside the play-off positions ahead of next week’s trip to Hull City.

Swansea were handed something of a dream start, and were up and running after just six minutes. A Matt Grimes cross