The ninth Premier League hat-trick of Jermain Defoe's career helped Sunderland to claim a 4-2 victory from their trip to relegation rivals Swansea City this evening.
In a game that also saw a dubious penalty awarded, as well as a red card, it was Sunderland's 33-year-old marksman that ultimately proved to be the difference and in doing so he moved his side to within one point of their hosts.
The game was just three minutes old when the former England frontman struck for the first time. Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was unable to hold Fabio Borini's shot and Defoe reacted quickest to convert the rebound.
The hosting Swans were only behind for 18 minutes, though, as they got themselves back level in fortunate circumstances. Referee Graham Scott adjudged that Sunderland centre-back Wes Brown had hauled down Andre Ayew inside the box, when replays showed that the Swansea attacker had in fact kicked the ground. Nevertheless, Gylfi Sigurdsson made the most of the good fortune by tucking home the resultant penalty.
There was yet more controversy eight minutes before the break when Swansea full-back Kyle Naughton was handed a straight red card following a challenge with Yaan M'Vila. Once again on second viewing it appeared that the match official had made the wrong decision, leaving the hosts to play the remainder of the game with 10 men.
Yet, despite their numerical disadvantage, it was Swansea that took the lead into the break when Ayew turned Lee Cattermole and then drilled his effort into the far corner of Vito Mannone's net in the 40th minute.
However, within four minutes of the restart parity was restored by Patrick van Aanholt. Sunderland's Dutch full-back cut inside from the left flank and saw his effort deflect off Federico Fernandez and beat a helpless Fabianski.
From that moment onwards Defoe took centre stage, first putting the travelling Black Cats back in front in the 61st minute when he slotted in Adam Johnson's through pass. Then, with five minutes left to play he prodded in Van Aanholt's cross to secure the three points and complete his first hat-trick in five years.
