Good afternoon everyone! We're only three weeks into the new Premier League season, but already the table is starting to take shape and teams are coming under pressure. Sunderland are one of those clubs feeling the heat and they will hope to kick-start their campaign against Swansea City today.

It is safe to say that the Black Cats have not enjoyed the best time so far this August. They started their league season with a 4-2 defeat against Leicester City, and it did not get any better last time out, as they were beaten 3-1 at home by Norwich City, with many fans leaving long before the final whistle.

Hoping to take advantage of the dire situation at the Stadium of Light will be a Swansea side who have looked in very good form. They twice came from behind to hold Chelsea to a 2-2 draw on the opening day, while last time out they eased to a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United.

I can tell you that the team news has arrived from the Stadium of Light, so let's have a look at who will be starting when the match kicks off at 3pm.

SUNDERLAND XI: Pantilimon, Jones, van Aanholt, O'Shea, Coates, Cattermole, Rodwell, M'Vila, Lens, Defoe, Graham

SWANSEA XI: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Cork, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Montero, Ayew, Gomis

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Mannone, Brown, Larsson, Matthews, Giaccherini, Fletcher, Watmore

SWANSEA SUBS: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Bartley, Britton, Dyer, Routledge, Eder

There we have our lineups for this afternoon's clash. Let's start with the hosts, who have made three changes from last weekend's defeat to Norwich. John O'Shea is brought back into the defence, with Younes Kaboul left out of the squad completely. Jack Rodwell and Danny Graham are also included, replacing Sebastian Larsson and Steven Fletcher.

Meanwhile, the Swans have kept faith with the same team that beat Newcastle. Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew will continue to lead the attack, with Jefferson Montero and Gylfi Sigurdsson looking to support them from the midfield. However, they are still without the injured Ki Sung-yueng, who has been suffering with a hamstring strain.

Well, there really hasn't been much to cheer for Sunderland and their fans this month and it looks as if they will be involved in another relegation battle. They have narrowly avoided the drop for the past two seasons, but the relegation trap door could finally open if their struggles continue.

The Black Cats actually went their first six games without a win in the league last season, although five of those matches ended in draws. Things didn't get too much better, and following a humiliating 4-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa, Dick Advocaat was brought in to replace Gus Poyet.

The Dutchman then ensured their survival with three wins from his nine games in charge, which included a victory over their biggest rivals Newcastle United, who also endured narrowly avoided the drop. Advocaat had initially decided to leave the club at the end of the season, but he changed his mind in June and agreed on a new one-year deal.

However, he may be regretting that decision now, as his team have lost both of their opening games and have leaked seven goals in the process. He even called a team meeting last Sunday to discuss their problems, and he could be forced into making several changes before the transfer window slams shut in 10 days time.

Their displays at the back in these early weeks have been heavily criticised and there seems little improvement on a defence who shipped 53 goals last season, with summer signing Younes Kaboul coming under fire for his displays since joining from Tottenham Hotspur.

Supporters making the trip to the Stadium of Light will be hoping that they are given more to cheer today, but their team team will be facing a tough match against Swansea. The Welsh club have made a promising start to their season and the early signs are that Garry Monk's side could push for a Europa League spot.

The Swans weren't given the easiest start to the season, as they faced champions Chelsea on the opening day. However, they came from behind twice to leave Stamford Bridge with a 2-2 draw, although their fine performance was overshadowed by the controversy involving the Blues' medical staff.

Last weekend they played their first match at the Liberty Stadium and hit top form again to claim a 2-0 win over Newcastle. Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew both found the net for the second game running, while Ecuadorian winger Jefferson Montero impressed once again. An improvement upon the club's eighth-placed finish that they managed last term looks to be a realistic aim and they have managed to keep hold of their key players from last season.

Sunderland have a poor recent record against today's opponents, as they have won just one of the last eight Premier League meetings between the teams. That win was three years ago, when they claimed a 2-0 victory at the Stadium of Light.

However, the last two games have ended on level terms. In their most recent meeting back in February, a second-half goal from Ki Sung-yueng cancelled out a strike Jermain Defoe to earn the Swans a 1-1 draw, while the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light ended goalless.

PREDICTION: On current form, there only looks to be one winner this afternoon. Sunderland have been poor at the back and it is hard to see them keeping a clean sheet today against Swansea's in-form strikers. So, for those reasons, I'm going to have to go for a 2-1 victory to the visitors.

We're just five minutes away from kick off, so there's still time to have a look at our video preview for today's match.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stadium of Light!

The Swans are seeing a lot of the ball in these early stages of the match, with their midfielders keeping possession well. They look to have already kicked into gear, with their familiar passing style evident to see.

Sunderland may have expected a frosty reception from their home fans after last week's poor result, but the supporters have been in full voice at the Stadium of Light. They are getting firmly behind their team and a huge road goes up around the ground whenever they get into their opponents' half.

Already it is clear to see that Sunderland are far more committed today and they have gone in with some tough challenges on the visitors. One of those tackles from Rodwell has left Ayew down and needing treatment on the pitch, and the Swans will be hoping that he is able to continue.

Following some more treatment off the pitch, Ayew is back on and he looks to get involved in the action as his side attack. The Swans seize upon a poor clearance from Pantilimon and get plenty of men in the box, but after getting into space down the left, Montero sees his cross easily cleared at the front post.

SHOT! We finally have our first shot of the match, but it's not one that will be remembered. Ayew picks up the ball in space and bursts through the midfield, but his low effort from range is poor and goes well wide of the target.

There is certainly no lack of effort from both teams, as there are plenty of tough challenges coming in, giving the referee a lot of work. It has led to a fractured contest so far, with no real chances created by either side.

YELLOW CARD! I just spoke about the referee having work to do and he hands out his first booking of the match to Lens. He had been involved in a collision with Taylor just inside the Swansea half, but I think he actually picked up the card for something that he said to the fourth official.

YELLOW CARD! Cattermole is the second player in quick succession from the hosts to be show a card this afternoon. He went through the back of Ayew with a crunching tackle and the referee was left with no choice but to book him.

The first real piece of quality from Sunderland sees Lens played the ball down the left, and spin his marker before standing up a teasing cross. Graham goes to attack it, but Williams gets across well to put the ball out for a corner, which ends up being easily claimed by Fabianksi.

Although we have only seen one attempt on goal, it is hard to take your eyes of this match. There is a real battle going on in the centre of the pitch and the fans are getting fully behind their teams. It is also quite an open game, but the final ball for the attacking players has been poor.

SHOT! It's another attempt on goal for the Swans, but again it's a shot that does little to test Pantilimon. This time Gomis picks up the ball in space just outside the box and fires in a low drive that is far too central and easily held by the keeper.

If anyone is going to be involved in a goal today, then Lens looks the man most likely to create it. The Dutchman shows good skill down the left again to whip in a teasing cross that Fabianksi comes out to punch with Defoe in close attention. The flag had actually been raised against the Sunderland forward, but it was still a promising sign.

SHOT! Down the other end of the pitch it's Swansea who are on the attack, with Ayew charging inside from the right wing. He is allowed to come a long way, and he reaches the edge of the box before going for goal, but he just drags the shot slightly and it heads wide of the far post.

CHANCE! First real chance of the match for Sunderland. M'Vila whips a free kick into the box that deflects kindly into the path of Graham. The striker then tries his luck with an overhead kick, but Fabianksi is in the right place to make a vital stop.

We've just had another stoppage as Jones and Montero come together in a clash of heads. Montero comes away without any trouble, but blood is pouring from Jones' head, and the medical staff are quickly on to give him treatment. After a minute, the defender is taken down the tunnel for further attention, and it looks as if Sunderland will now finish the half with 10 men.

Swansea are looking to make their numerical advantage count in the final minutes of the half and they are putting the pressure on. They should also do better when a flowing move sees Montero slipped in on goal by Shelvey, but the winger is flagged offside.

The Black Cats are back up to a full compliment of players, as Jones emerges from the tunnel with a change of kit. It is vital that they head into the break on level terms, as conceding a goal at this stage could shatter their already flagging confidence.

There are going to be at least three minutes of stoppage time before the break.

What a huge blow this is for Sunderland, as the visitors take the lead in the final moments of the first half. Naughton did brilliantly to charge through the midfield, before sliding a wonderful ball through to Gomis, who kept his composure to fire a low strike across the keeper and into the far corner.

It looked as if the opening 45 minutes were set to end without a goal, but on the stroke of half time Bafetimbi Gomis found the back of the net for the third game running to give Swansea the lead. The visitors have probably shaded the match, but Sunderland have put in a great deal of effort and will consider themselves unlucky to go into the break trailing.

Here's how the statistics shaped up from the first half. Swansea saw plenty of the ball and they racked up 64% of the possession. They also had seven attempts on goal, compared to just two from the hosts, and they generally looked more threatening going forward.

I mentioned earlier that Gomis was in good form, and the striker has continued his hot streak in front of goal. He got off to a slow start last season, but since Wilfried Bony left for Manchester City in January, he has certainly stepped up to the plate.

RESTART! Sunderland take the kick off and get the second half started.

YELLOW CARD! Coates picks up a booking in the opening minutes of the half for bringing down Montero as he looked to charge into the box. The contact looked to be on the very edge of the area, but the referee has given a free kick instead of a penalty.

OFF THE POST! It's almost two for Swansea, as Shelvey is played a corner short and whips in a great cross that Ayew rises to meet and heads against the post. The keeper was left rooted to his spot and that really could have killed off any chances that Sunderland had of coming back.

YELLOW CARD! Ayew has been handed out some rough treatment this afternoon, but he picks up a booking here for a foul on Rodwell.

SHOT! There have just been a few signs of life from Sunderland in the past few minutes. Lens has seen a goal ruled out for offside, while Rodwell has just fired a shot from range a few inches over the bar.

CHANCE! Swansea have just wasted another big chance to double their tally. Once again, Ayew is found in the middle following a cross from Shelvey, and the Ghanaian looks to head the ball into the far corner, but it bounces just wide of the post.

The Black Cats have rode their luck in the past few minutes, but they are now back on level terms. It was a finely worked goal, as Lens slipped a lovely ball through to Defoe, who made no mistake with a clinical finish into the bottom corner. He is just the man Sunderland would have wanted in that position and it is anyone's guess as to how this match will end now.

PENALTY APPEAL! Sunderland feel that they should have a penalty when Cattermole fires in a shot from the edge of the box that strikes the hand of Williams. The ball did make contact with the Swansea defender, but it would have been a harsh decision if the referee gave a spot kick.

SUB! The hosts make the first change of the match, with Fletcher replacing Graham.

SAVES! Pantilimon keeps his side level with two important saves in the space of a minute. First the keeper beats away a fierce strike from Shelvey, and moments later he is down well to tip Sigurdsson's low effort from the edge of the box wide of the post.

CHANCE! Lens has been one of the best players on the pitch this afternoon and the Dutchman shows his threat once again by storming down the left wing. He then plays a low cross into the six-yard box looking for Fletcher, but the Scot can't make any contact with the ball as the Swans scramble it clear.

SAVE! What a brilliant save this is by Pantilimon. Montero burst clear down the left and whipped a great cross into the box from the byline. It was met by Gomis, whose header looked certain to find the net, but the keeper reacted quickly to stick out a strong arm and claw the ball to safety.

SHOT! It's end to end at the moment and Sunderland break with pace, with Lens leading the charge. The Dutchman bursts past a couple of tackles and gets to the edge of the box, before curling in a powerful strike that just heads over the top corner.

SUB! The Swans make a change, as Eder comes on up front to replace Gomis.

SHOT! At the moment, it's Swansea who are calling the shots and they are getting plenty of men forward. Shelvey has had a few cracks at goal, and his latest effort is blocked and drops into the path of Montero, who takes a couple of touches and fires in an effort that deflects just over the bar for a corner.

YELLOW CARD! Van Aanholt is shown a card for throwing the ball away after a foul was given against him.

Lens picked up a booking early in the first half and he has been walking a bit of a tightrope since. He is perhaps fortunate to avoid a second yellow here, for a foul on Naughton, but he is let off with just a warning from the referee.

SUB! It's a second change for Sunderland, with Defoe heading off for Watmore, who scored in last weekend's defeat.

CHANCE! This has to go down as quite a decent opening for the Swans. Montero has been dangerous throughout the half and he stands up another fine cross to the back post. Fernandez is there to meet it, but he is just put off slightly by his marker and places his header over the bar.

Sunderland are given a huge chance to grab a late winner when they are awarded a free kick just outside the box. Lens steps up to take it, but he drills his effort into the wall. It then comes out to Van Aanholt, but the Dutchman hammers the ball high into the stands.

There are going to be at least three minutes of stoppage time.

CHANCE! It's another big chance for the hosts. Coates breaks free of his marker at a corner and makes firm contact with the ball, but he can only place his header over the bar.

YELLOW CARD! Rodwell is brought down just outside the box by Sigurdsson and picks up a card. It has also given Sunderland another free kick in a very promising position, with most of their outfield players standing over the ball.

SUB! Sunderland are bringing on Larsson to take the free kick! Lens is the man to make way.

Larsson does indeed take the free kick, but he is only able to smash the ball into the wall, and the Swans clear the danger.

It's all over at the Stadium of Light, where Sunderland have come from behind to earn their first point of the season. They looked in real trouble at the start of the second half as the Swans threatened to add a second goal, but a spirited display and well-taken effort from Jermain Defoe has finally got them off the mark!

That's all we've got time for here, but stay with us, as there's analysis and player ratings of the match to follow! We've also got more live coverage throughout the weekend, with plenty of big games to come. Until next time, goodbye!