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SWANSEA took a huge step closer to Premier League survival as they beat Sunderland to move four points clear of the drop zone.

Paul Clement's side struck twice in the first half against already down Sunderland to pile the pressure on relegation rivals Hull to beat Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Swansea celebrate as they put the pressure on Hull in the battle to avoid relegation
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Swansea celebrate as they put the pressure on Hull in the battle to avoid relegationCredit: PA:Press Association
Kyle Naughton strikes his fierce drive into the top corner to put Swansea two-up
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Kyle Naughton strikes his fierce drive into the top corner to put Swansea two-upCredit: Getty Images

Fernando Llorente opened the scoring with a ninth minute header before Kyle Naughton's piledriver into the top corner doubled their lead.

Hull now need to beat Palace to have an realistic chance of stopping themselves becoming the final team relegated after Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS

  • Swansea players clubbed together around £75,000 to pay for the tickets of 3,000 travelling fans, as well as a lunch voucher for them all. Skipper Leon Britton was the brains behind the idea.
  • Young Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery was on the cover of the matchday programme and all proceeds from its sale went to the charity set up by his family to help his fight against cancer.

 

The match programme of the game was a tribute to cancer-stricken fan Bradley Lowery
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The match programme of the game was a tribute to cancer-stricken fan Bradley LoweryCredit: Rex Features
Bradley Lowery was carried onto the field by Jermain Defoe before kick-off
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Bradley Lowery was carried onto the field by Jermain Defoe before kick-offCredit: Rex Features
The Sunderland crowd displayed a special banner in support of cancer sufferer Bradley Lowery
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The Sunderland crowd displayed a special banner in support of cancer sufferer Bradley LoweryCredit: PA:Press Association
  • Jermain Defoe came out of the tunnel carrying Bradley, whose shirt said ‘Thank you SAFC and fans’ on the back.
  • When the clock turned to five minutes, there was a round of applause in honour of five-year-old Bradley, and a banner reading ‘There’s only one Bradley Lowery’ went across the South Stand. Swansea fans themselves then sang ‘There’s only one Bradley Lowery’.
  • Fernando Llorente headed Swansea ahead in the eighth minute for his 14th goal of the season. The goal was a rare mistake from Jordan Pickford, who came to clear Gylfi Sigurdsson’s cross but failed to do so. This is likely to be the in-demand Pickford’s last game here in a Sunderland shirt.

 

Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford gets nowhere near the ball allowing Swansea top open the scoring
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Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford gets nowhere near the ball allowing Swansea top open the scoringCredit: Reuters
Fernando Llorente wheels away in celebration after his early goal for Swansea
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Fernando Llorente wheels away in celebration after his early goal for SwanseaCredit: Rex Features
  • A plane flew over the Stadium of Light reading ‘United by cancer, divided by leagues’. It was controversially organised by a Newcastle fan – a nod towards young Bradley and a dig at Sunderland’s relegation.
  • Black Cats fans chanted ‘We want Moyesy out’ and ‘Are you watching Ellis Short?’ after the Swans took the lead.

 

Kyle Naughton celebrates his goal deep in first hald stoppage time
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Kyle Naughton celebrates his goal deep in first hald stoppage timeCredit: PA:Press Association
  • Owner Ellis Short was in the stands at the Stadium of Light for the last time as a Premier League owner.
  • Jason Denayer limped off for Sunderland in the 20th minute and Victor Anichebe followed him 17 minutes later. The on-loan Denayer and the out-of-contract Anichebe are unlikely to be seen again in a Sunderland shirt.
  • Kyle Naughton's strike for Swansea on the stroke of half-time was his first goal in six years.

THE BIG PICTURE

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DREAM TEAM RATINGS

SUNDERLAND: Pickford 4, Jones 6, Kone 6, O'Shea 6, Manquillo 6, Larsson 6, Denayer (Gibson 20, 6), Ndong 6, Borini 6, Defoe 5, Anichibe 5 (Khazri 37, 6)

SWANSEA: Fabianski 7, Naughton 8, Fernandez 7, Mawson 6, Olsson 7, Ki 6 (Fer 67, 6), Britton 7 (Cork 77, 6), Sigurdsson 7, Carroll 7, Ayew 6, Llorente 7 (Narsingh 89, 6)

Star Man: Kyle Naughton

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