Sunderland vs Swansea match report: Black Cats can't take advantage as 10-man Swans hold on following Angel Rangel dismissal

Sunderland 0 Swansea 0: Connor Wickham had a chance late on but saw his header fly over the crossbar

Angel Rangel is sent-off after picking up a second yellow card (Getty Images)

Gus Poyet, the Sunderland manager, suffered fresh frustration in his efforts to guide his side to their first Premier League win of the season as they were held by 10-man Swansea.

The Swansea defender, Angel Rangel, earned a second yellow card for a needless bodycheck on the Sunderland winger, Will Buckley, with 10 minutes remaining, but the visitors held out comfortably enough to earn a point and stem a run of back-to-back League defeats.

Sunderland had to settle for a fifth draw in six League games. Striker Connor Wickham spurned their clearest opening inside the final 20 minutes when the England Under-21 international headed over as he met Seb Larsson’s inviting cross 10 yards from goal.

Substitute Steven Fletcher, who had replaced Wickham, followed suit soon after with an equally wayward header to ensure Sunderland past the three-hour mark without a goal in the Premier League.

Swansea were even less effective in front of goal, and barely mustered a shot on goal in the entire match.

Garry Monk’s side were indebted to Lukasz Fabianski, who made three fine saves before the break to help earn a point.

The former Arsenal goalkeeper beat out a far post shot from the winger Adam Johnson, before blocking at the feet of Buckley, the speedy midfielder who caught the eye on a rare Premier League start.

Fabianski dived full length to block a Santiago Vergini header shortly before half-time and although the hosts kept up the pressure in the second half, they were unable to find a way through.

Wickham had penalty claims turned down when he fell to ground under a challenge from Federico Fernandez.

The result leaves Sunderland heading towards emulating their poor start to last season, when it took them nine games to register their first victory.

LINE-UPS:

Sunderland (4-1-4-1): Mannone; Jones, Vergini, O’Shea, van Aanholt; Cattermole; Buckley, Larsson, Rodwell (Jordi Gomez, 58), Johnson (Álvarez, 66), Wickham (Fletcher,78).

Swansea (4-4-1-1): Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Dyer (Montero, 66), Ki, Shelvey, Routledge; Sigurdsson (Richards, 82); Gomis (Bony, 73).

Referee: Chris Foy

Man of the match: Ashley Williams (Swansea)

Match rating: 3/10