Point and clean sheet pleases Monk

Garry Monk praised his side for their resolute display after they drew 0-0 against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, despite being reduced to ten men.

In what was a cagey 90 minutes of football in the North East of England, Angel Rangel was sent off for two bookable offences, while Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher both spurned chances to snatch three points for the hosts.

Rangel earned his second yellow card of the game when he was adjudged to have fouled Will Buckley with ten minutes to go.

Wickham and substitute Fletcher almost won it for the Black Cats late on but both headed wide.

And after his side earned a point from what was a difficult game, Monk was pleased with his side's show of character.



"If you look at the game overall, we weren't at our fluid best," admitted the Swans boss.

"But the next best thing after that is to defend well and make sure you don't get beat. We did that today.

"We've played very well this season, but we know we can't play our best every single game.

"We're disappointed that we weren't at our best, but I'm pleased with the point and the character we showed."

He added:  "We can't complain, a point is a good result for us. It was a very scrappy game. Neither team created much.

"We didn't create enough to win the game, but apart from a couple of headers from them it was a pretty much nothing game.

"It's always difficult when you come to a place like this. Sunderland are a good team and they have a good manager.

"We had to show a different side today and were rewarded for that."