Dismal debut for Poyet.
Gus Poyet endured a dismal start to his reign as Sunderland manager as Swansea romped to a 4-0 win at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
Poyet was hired to replace the sacked Paolo Di Canio earlier this month, but the two-week international break had deprived the former Tottenham and Chelsea midfielder of the opportunity to work with his new players and they looked lost during a shocking second half collapse.
The Swans had not won on home soil in eight games but a Phil Bardsley own goal, a Jonathan de Guzman strike, Wilfried Bony’s penalty and Chico Flores’ header gave them a convincing victory which kept Sunderland rooted to the bottom of the Premier League with only one point from their first eight matches.
Sunderland had been combative up until the opener, but they fell apart during the final half-hour to illustrate the task facing former Brighton boss Poyet as he looks to lift the Wearsiders clear of the relegation mire.
It was a dispiriting end to a day that had started brightly for Poyet as he watched Sunderland enjoy plenty of possession in the first half.
Chico had to make a crucial tackle to prevent Adam Johnson racing clear after a terrible pass by De Guzman, while Steven Fletcher should have had the Black Cats ahead a few minutes later.
Swansea were caught sleeping at a corner as Johnson found Fletcher unmarked, but the Scotland forward could not control his half-volley and his shot flew wide.
Swansea’s lethargy was summed up when Ben Davies, normally so reliable at left-back, allowed Sebastian Larsson too much room to get in a cross that Michel Vorm had to gather at the second attempt.
But Swansea were an entirely different proposition in the second half and the hosts’ opening goal arrived in the 57th minute.
Angel Rangel flicked on De Guzman’s corner and it hit Sunderland defender Bardsley before deflecting past goalkeeper Kieran Westwood into his own net.
That was the signal for Sunderland to collapse as De Guzman curled home a superb strike from the edge of the area just one minute later.
It was 3-0 in the 64th minute as Craig Gardner brought down Leon Britton to give Swansea a first Premier League penalty in 56 games.
Bony made no mistake from the spot for his sixth Swansea goal, before Chico bundled in a header from another De Guzman set-piece in the 80th minute to give the Welsh club their biggest home win in the Premier League.
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