Ronald’s double a blow for Dodds in first game at helm
MICHAEL DODDS needs a miracle to lead Sunderland to the play-offs after a third defeat in a row.
The Mackems season is almost dead after Swansea winger Ronald’s double sealed the points.
Sunderland sacked boss Michael Beale last week after just 63 days in charge, but there was no response.
A 3-4-3 experiment flopped, and they missed injured winger Jack Clarke.
Stand-in boss Dodds now has Norwich, Leicester and Southampton on the horizon – and is in charge of an ailing side who have lost five of their last eight games.
Dodds said: “Didn’t work. We have to take that first 45 minutes on the chin, myself, the staff and players. It was really, really poor. That first half isn’t a Mike Dodds’ team.
“I will make bold decisions and sometimes it will be a negative.
“First half I wasn’t happy, second half miles better.
We weren’t aggressive.
“I am clear how we fell down and that gives me peace of mind.
“We have to put the performance right.
“There are 12 games to go. The result isn’t going to help a push for the top six.
“I am still confident with the players the group.”
The first half was one of Sunderland’s worst of the season – and Swansea tore them apart on the break.
Joe Allen and Matt Grimes ran the midfield and exploited space out wide and helped tee up Ronald’s first two goals for his new club.
The attacker was signed in January from Gremio Anapolis and looked sharp. For his first, Josh Tymon crossed for Liam Cullen to head and force a good save from Anthony Patterson who was still on the ground when Ronald stabbed home.
Ronald then burst down the right and teed up Przemyslaw Placheta who fired over from eight yards.
Allen sprung the move for the second, intercepting a Luke O’Nien ball and driving forward, with Ronald finishing.
Swans boss Luke Williams said: “We were strong and dominant in the first half. We feel we are improving step by step. “Ronald deserved his goals. He has deserved a few more. He was a huge threat and is so quick and direct.”
The Black Cats grabbed a lifeline when O’Nien headed in at the back post from Pierre Ekwah’s free-kick.
The visiting defence held firm with Nathan Wood excellent. Sunderland keeper Patterson almost scored an injury-time leveller with a diving header from a corner.
SUNDERLAND: Patterson 5, Seelt 5, O’Nien 6, Hjelde 5 (Aouchiche (85)
5), Hume 6, Styles 5 (Mundle (60) 5), Ekwah 5, Neil 5; Ba 5 (Rigg (72) 5), Jobe 5, Rusyn 5 (Hemir (72) 5)
SWANSEA: Rushworth 6, Naughton 6 (Darling (89) 6), Cabango 7, Wood 8, Tymon 7; Allen 7 (Fulton (63) 6), Grimes 7; Ronald 8 (Cooper (89) 6), Placheta 7, Patterson 7 (Yates (63) 7), Cullen 7 (Patino (78) 6)
STAR MAN: Ronald – The Brazilian winger put Swansea in command with his first-half goals.
REF: Keith Stroud 7