Swansea City hosted Sunderland in their Premier League match at the Liberty Stadium as both teams looked to bounce back from defeats.
After a goalless first half, Swansea scored four goals after the interval to give them a comfortable victory.
An own goal from Phil Bardsley and strikes from Jonathan de Guzman, Wilfried Bony and Chico Flores made it a day to forget for new Sunderland manager Gus Poyet.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Good afternoon! Thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of this afternoon’s Premier League clash between Swansea City and Sunderland.
After two weeks of international action where a host of teams booked their spot in next summer’s World Cup finals, the Premier League makes a welcome return to action.
The big news as far as Sunderland fans are concerned is that Gus Poyet will be in charge of his first game for the club after being appointed as their new head coach last week.
The former Uruguayan international was most recently at Brighton & Hobe Albion, taking them to the playoffs last season, until he was dismissed from the club in June. Sunderland fans will be hoping he lasts longer than his predecessor Paolo Di Canio, who was sacked after winning just 3 of his 13 games in charge.
SWANSEA XI Vorm, Rangel, Chico, Amat, Davies, Britton, de Guzman, Michu, Dyer, Routledge, Bony
SUNDERLAND XI Westwood, Celustka, Bardsley, O'Shea, Roberge, Cattermole, Johnson, Larsson, Gardner, Giaccherini, Fletcher
Gus Poyet has given Steven Fletcher a start in his first match as manager, after the striker's recovery from injury. As far as Swansea are concerned, it is a strong line up with Michu starting after winning his first cap for Spain, but captain Ashley Williams is still sidelined.
Sunderland are currently bottom of the Premier League table and are yet to win a game in the league this season. They will have to start picking up points soon if they are to stand any chance of staying up.
As for their opponents today, it has been a rather mixed start to the campaign for Swansea. They are 15th in the table and have only won two of their first seven league fixtures, failing to pick up three points at home so far.
As for their opponents today, it has been a rather mixed start to the campaign for Swansea. They are 15th in the table and have only won two of their first seven league fixtures, failing to pick up three points at home so far.
Their first three home matches were against Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, which goes some way to explaining why they have struggled at the Liberty Stadium in the opening stages of the season.
SWANSEA SUBS Tremmel, Taylor, Tiendalli, Canas, Shelvey, Pozuelo, Vazquez
SUNDERLAND SUBS Dossena, Colback, Vaughan, Altidore, Cuellar, Borini, Mannone
HEAD TO HEAD: These two sides have met each other four times in the Premier League. Three of those matches ended in draws, with Sunderland winning the other encounter 2-0 in January 2012.
STAT: Sunderland have the worst defensive record in the league this season having conceded 2.29 goals per game. Swansea’s record of 1.57 goals conceded per game is the 17th worst in the league.
STAT: As well as their problems in defence, Sunderland have been goal shy this season, scoring a just five times in the league, only one more than Stoke City. Swansea have scored eight goals this season, an average of 1.14 goals per game.
UPDATE: Today's early Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool has finished in a 2-2 draw. The result lifts Liverpool to the top of the table, one point ahead of Arsenal who are in action against Norwich City later today.
Sunderland would be 16th in the table if games finished at half time, while Swansea would have earned one more point and moved up to 14th.
PREDICTION: When they are playing at the top of their game, Swansea are a force to be reckoned with. Laudrup’s side have struggled for consistency this season but, starting with today’s match, they will look at their upcoming fixtures and be confident they can put together a good run of form. Sunderland on the other hand have so far failed to gel as a team after Di Canio’s host of summer signings and Gus Poyet has a lot of work to do in a short space of time. They played well in their last two league outings against Liverpool and Manchester United before eventually falling to defeat and I expect Swansea to have far too much quality to edge past them today. I’m going to for a 2-1 win for the home side.
We are just minutes away from the kickoff with both teams making their way out of the tunnel.
Gus Poyet has received a big cheer from the visiting fans as he prepares to take charge of his first Premier League match.
REFEREE: Craig Pawson
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Liberty Stadium!
Swansea are seeing a lot of the ball in the opening stages but the visitors look fired up for this one.
Sunderland manage to bring the ball deep into the Swansea half but Giaccherini is flagged for an offside in what looked to be a promising situation.
Britton was caught in possession on the edge of his box by Gardner but the Sunderland man's forward pass was too heavy for Fletcher to latch onto.
Nearly a calamitous moment for Sunderland as Westwood comes to collect a cross from Dyer and drops the ball. Lucky for him Bony and Michu were not close enough to take advantage and the keeper's blushes are spared.
YELLOW CARD! Bardsley is booked for a foul on Dyer giving Swansea a free kick just inside the Sunderland half.
De Guzman takes the free kick and his whipped ball into the middle is slightly over hit and narrowly avoids the head of Michu.
CHANCE! Great chance for Fletcher to score on his return to the side. A corner is played low into the middle and the striker makes good contact on the half-volley but directs his effort just wide of the post.
Fletcher looks like he has added another dimension to the Sunderland team today and his hold up play is looking particularly impressive.
Swansea have started to look sloppy in possession over the last few minutes and are giving the ball away very cheaply to visitors.
Nearly a chance for Sunderland as Giaccherini attempts to thread a ball through the heart of the home side's defence, but there is just too much on the pass and Vorm is able to collect.
Bony flights a ball over the top for De Guzman to latch onto, but just like Giaccherini's attempted pass at the other end, there is too much on it and the keeper is able to safely gather.
Sunderland cause some more problems in the home side's penalty area. A long hopeful ball into the middle is played back into the box by Larsson and Vorm manages to claim the ball at the second time of asking.
Swansea aren't looking like themselves today. I can't remember the last time I saw the Welsh side play so many long balls instead of sticking to their usual passing game.
That's a bit more like it from the Swans. After some fine team play, Britton threads a ball through but Michu is unable to latch onto it.
Good defending from the visitors as first Routledge attempts a long range shot that is blocked and then Michu is bullied off the ball as he attempted to get into a shooting position.
CHANCE! Swansea get a free kick around 30 yards from goal and De Guzman bends a powerful, curling effort just wide of the post. That was a terrific effort and some of the fans thought it had hit the back of the net.
The home side attempt another shot from distance and this time it's Rangel who lets loose, but his effort is hit straight at Westwood.
The game has failed to burst into life during this first half and credit must be given to the Black Cats for their disciplined defensive performance so far.
YELLOW CARD! Roberge is booked for dragging back Michu as he looked to burst into the area. Lucky for him O'Shea was there too otherwise he would have been looking at a sending off. De Guzman will take the free kick.
After an initial scramble, the Sunderland defence manage to clear De Guzman's free kick to safety.
It just hasn't happened so far for Michu and Bony, they attempt to exchange passes on the edge of the box but their opponents clear again.
YELLOW CARD! Chico Flores is booked for a foul on Johnson and Sunderland have a free kick in a promising position.
Larsson whips in the free kick from the left but it is straight into the hands of the keeper.
HALF TIME: Swansea 0-0 Sunderland
The referee brings the half to a close with Swansea and Sunderland level going into the break. It hasn't been the most eventful match so far with chances at a premium for both sides.
Swansea have seen 63% of the ball in the first half but have failed to turn that into goals. Despite his side's lack of possession, new manager Poyet will be pleased with the spirit and togetherness of his team this afternoon.
The home side have threatened more times than their opponents today, with 5 shots on goal. Most of those shots came from long range and their front two of Michu and Bony have looked very quiet so far.
The visitors have had just a sole attempt on goal through Fletcher's volleyed effort, but it was the best opportunity of the half for either side.
UPDATE: Let's take a look at some of the scores from this afternoon's Premier League action. Arsenal are leading Norwich 1-0 and if it stays that way they will return to the top of the table. Manchester United lead by the same scoreline against Southampton and it's 1-1 between Chelsea and Cardiff City.
The players are emerging from the tunnel and the second half will be kicking off shortly.
The second half is underway.
CHANCE! What a chance for Sunderland! Giaccherini whips a ball into the middle and it falls for Bardsley at the back post, but he gets his shot all wrong and fires over from a few yards out.
Michu bursts forward and wins a corner for Swansea after some great build up play by the hosts. The resulting corner comes to nothing as the visitors clear it to safety.
SUBSTITUTION: Neil Taylor is on for Swansea in the place of Ben Davies who looks like he's picked up an injury.
CHANCE! Big chance for Michu as he latches onto the end of Bony's flick, but on his favoured left foot he fires over from a good position inside the box. That's the sort of opportunity he usually puts away.
CHANCE! The hosts are starting to pull the Sunderland defence apart now. After some fine play down the right, Rangel whips a fantastic ball into the middle but Bony fires it over the bar from just a few yards out.
CHANCE! Dyer bursts forward from the midfield and unleashes a low strike from 25 yards out that Westwood pushes wide for a corner.
GOAL! Swansea 1-0 Sunderland (Bardsley own goal)
De Guzman whips in a great corner and it cannons of the unlucky Bardsley and into the net. A cruel moment for Sunderland, but the home side have deserved it for the way they have started this half.
GOAL! Swansea 2-0 Sunderland (De Guzman)
What a fantastic goal this is! De Guzman picks up the ball 25 yards out from goal, takes a touch, and bends a beauty into the top corner giving Westwood absolutely no chance in the Sunderland goal!
SUBSTITUTION Poyet has reacted to going two goals down by bringing on Borini and Colback.
CHANCE! Almost immediately the substitution pays off. Borini latches onto a long ball over the top but fires over under pressure from Vorm.
SAVE! Brilliant save by Westwood! DE Guzman thinks that he has scored his second off the game with a fantastic volley but the keeper somehow pushes his effort wide.
PENALTY TO SWANSEA!
GOAL! Swansea 3-0 Sunderland (Bony)
Swansea are awarded a penalty after Gardner brings down Britton inside the box, with Bony stepping up to fire past Westwood.
Poyet's first match as manager of the Black Cats is turning into a nightmare at the Liberty Stadium. Three quick goals inside of eight minutes have given Swansea a lead that they surely won't relinquish.
Sunderland look shell-shocked here and Cattermole gets into a war of words with the referee over a foul on Michu. He isn't booked this time but the midfielder must keep his temper in check.
De Guzman has looked Swansea's best player this half and he almost scores from a cross that lands on top of Westwood's net.
SUBSTITUTION: Alvaro Vazquez is on for the scorer of Swansea's third goal Bony.
Borini attempts a strike from long distance for Sunderland, but his long range volley is straight into the hands of Vorm.
SAVE! He may be on the losing side, but Westwood has made some brilliant saves today. This time he pushes Michu's powerful header around the post for a corner.
GOAL! Swansea 4-0 Sunderland (Flores)
Swansea are cruising here! De Guzman takes the corner and whips in another fine delivery the Flores gets on the end of to head home. It has been a great second half from the hosts who have punished their opponents today.
SUBSTITUTION: Pozuelo replaces Routledge for the home side.
SUBSTITUTION: Sunderland also make a change with Altidore coming on for Fletcher.
Altidore looks hungry to make an impact and is unlucky to be flagged offside after latching onto the end of a cross-field pass.
Swansea look happy to keep the ball and hold on to their lead in the closing stages here.
We are going to have three minutes of added time.
FULL TIME: Swansea 4-0 Sunderland
The referee brings to an end Sunderland's biggest defeat of the season. Poyet is seen shaking his head as his team makes their way towards the tunnel. He has a lot of work to do at the Premier League's bottom side.
After a poor first half performance, Swansea came to life after the break and Laudraup's men played some fantastic stuff. It has been an indifferent start to the season for the Welsh club but today's victory may be the springboard they need to put together a good run of form.
Swansea move up to 11th in the table after today's victory, with Sunderland still rooted to the foot of the table having now lost seven of their eight league fixtures.
Well that's all we've got time for. Thanks for joining our commentary of today's game. Please stay with Sports Mole for live text coverage of West Ham United's clash with Manchester City at Upton Park.
