10/12/2016 15:00 v Sunderland

Fernando Llorente scored twice as the Swans beat Sunderland 3-0 to climb off the bottom of the Premier League and out of the relegation zone.

After a tense first half, the deadlock was broken in the 50th minute when Gylfi Sigurdsson fired home from the penalty spot after Jason Denayer had handled Wayne Routledge's cross.

In complete control of possession and territory, Bob Bradley's side made full use of their dominance with a brace from Llorente.

The Spaniard, who had scored two goals in the previous home win over Crystal Palace, sidefooted home a superbly-worked corner from Sigurdsson before he headed sub Jefferson Montero's cross for his fifth goal of the season.

It proved the perfect present for Swans fans in what is the club's last game before Christmas.

The win moved the Swans onto 12 points after 15 games - above third-bottom West Ham on goal difference.

The best chances of the first half came from Sigurdsson's free-kicks, with Alfie Mawson and then Jordi Amat both heading over.

Llorente also got onto the end of a cross from the midfielder, but it failed to trouble Jordan Pickford.

Sunderland's best opportunity fell to Jermain Defoe, with the skipper latching onto Victor Anichebe's pass before racing on and firing over from 18 yards.

Then, in added on time, Modou Barrow was fed by Jay Fulton, but the Gambian's low drive fizzed wide on a wet surface as both teams entered the break on level terms.

After a warning shot from Defoe, the Liberty had the moment it had been waiting for.

Five minutes into the second half, Wayne Routledge's cross was handled by Jason Denayer, and referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot.

Up stepped Sigurdsson, and the Icelandic international fired his sixth goal of the season straight down the middle.

It lifted the tension at the Liberty, but Sunderland were still looking dangerous in the final third.

Anichebe's fine cross bounced along the face of goal, but none of his team-mates could get a touch.

But the Swans struck again in the 54th minute with a goal straight from the training ground.

Sigurdsson struck a low corner towards the onrushing Llorente, and the Spaniard coolly sidefooted home from eight yards out.

Now Bradley's side were well on top, and, more importantly, they were making full use of their dominance.

Llorente went close to adding another but he failed to connect with Barrow's knock back, but the striker didn't have to wait too long for another.

Sub Jefferson Montero beat his marker and his perfect cross was met by the leaping Llorente, who nodded into the far corner.

It was turning into a fine afternoon for the Swans, who were responding perfectly to the previous week's loss at Spurs.

But there was still work to be done at the back, with the Swans trying to keep their third clean sheet of the campaign.

And their determination was typified by Lukasz Fabianski, who dived at full stretch to tip Papy Djilobodji's header from a corner over the crossbar.

That proved job done, with Bradley's side moving off the bottom and out of the bottom three.
 

SWANS: Lukasz Fabianski, Angel Rangel, Alfie Mawson, Jordi Amat, Neil Taylor, Leon Britton (capt), Jay Fulton, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Wayne Routledge, Modou Barrow (Jefferson Montero, 77), Fernando Llorente (Oli McBurnie, 84).
SUBS: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Kyle Naughton, Mike van der Hoorn, Jack Cork, Leroy Fer.

SUNDERLAND: Jordan Pickford, Billy Jones, Patrick Van Aanholt, Jason Denayer, Papy Djilobodji, Seb Larsson (Adnan Januzaj, 55), Didier Ndong (Jan Kirchoff, 57), Jermain Defoe (capt), Steven Pienaar (Javier Manquillo, 85), Lamine Kone, Victor Anichebe.
SUBS: Vito Mannone, John O'Shea, Fabio Borini, Wahbi Khazri.