Clement’s incredible escape act so nearly complete
Llorente and Naughton see off Moyes and his sorry bunch as Swans charge towards safety
SUNDERLAND 0 SWANSEA 2 Llorente 9, Naughton 45
WHEN Paul Clement took charge of Swansea in early January they were bottom of the Premier League and trailed Sunderland by three points. It serves to highlight his influence that they could be safe this afternoon and are now 14 points better off than yesterday’s opponents.
Clement — assistant manager at Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in recent seasons — is more accustomed to celebrating title victories.
Few, then, had him down as the leader of a survival expedition when he arrived in south Wales at the start of the year, especially given an ill-fated spell in charge of Derby County during his only other managerial post.
But Clement, on the evidence of his chest thump in front of the travelling fans after this comfortable victory, looks to have taken more satisfaction from his part in Swansea’s escape act than he did from those trophy-laden years on the continent.
If Hull lose at Crystal Palace today then Clement and his team — who plan to gather at striker Fernando Llorente’s house — will be toasting the renewal of their top-flight status. Even a draw as good as keeps them up.
Here, they encountered hospitable Sunderland, the team who have long since worn the look of a demoted and demoralised bunch. Their victory at Hull last weekend defied logic given their recent efforts, or lack of them.
But there was no such resolve from David Moyes’ sorry side this time. The contest was over by halftime after goals from Llorente and Kyle Naughton and, regardless of what happens elsewhere, Swansea will be safe if they beat West Brom at home next Sunday.
Clement said: ‘It is a big win at a crucial point. We did our bit but we don’t think our job is done. There’s a lot of pressure on both teams on Sunday now. But our focus is on finishing the job because we can’t rely on other teams.’
Swansea have taken 10 points from the last 12 — after a run of one point from 18 — and Clement added: ‘We have had a great run of form at just the right time. But I never thought it was over for us. There was a concern when we had a poor run of not playing well at a vital time and the mood was going in the wrong direction.
‘But I knew that Stoke game (a 2-0 home win last month) was big because there were still enough games to get valuable points on board. We’ve done that so far and I am proud of the players.’
The opening goal was awfully easy. Gylfi Sigurdsson loaded a free-kick into a crowded penalty area from the right flank. It was a good delivery but by no means impossible to defend.
Sunderland made it look so, however, and when goalkeeper Jordan Pickford punched at fresh air it allowed Llorente to turn in a header for his 14th of the season. Cue home chants of ‘We want Moyesy out’ and ‘Are you watching Ellis Short?’.
The owner was watching, alongside chief executive Martin Bain, the men who have asked Moyes to stay on next season. It is not a popular decision in these parts.
Two home players then went off injured — loanee Jason Denayer and the out-of-contract Victor Anichebe — and there was little applause as they left the field. It is unlikely either will be seen in the club’s colours again. Sunderland’s
only effort on goal in the first half was a Fabio Borini volley which ballooned some 10 yards over the crossbar. The home fans greeted the effort with ironic cheers.
Swansea had their second goal in first-half stoppage-time, former Sunderland loanee Ki Sung-yueng feeding the overlapping Naughton, who blasted into the top corner for his first goal in six years.
Cue another round of calls for Moyes to go. It did not get any better after the break, save for a Jermain Defoe shot which was deflected wide. This will almost certainly be Defoe’s last game at the Stadium of Light — a relegation clause allows him to leave for free — and it was a sad exit for a player who has carried the team for much of the season.
For Swansea, though, there were only smiles at full-time. The players had paid for 3,000 fans to follow them to Wearside and, like the home crowd, they were singing their manager’s name.
But the context could not have been more different.