9th Dec 2016 | Premier League
Swansea v Sunderland Preview
Sunderland have momentum but judged across the season there isn’t much between the sides, apart from Swansea suffering poor conversion%.
After earning one of the most thrilling victories of the season, Swansea backed it up with an abject performance against Tottenham, losing 5-0 and managing just one shot. It’s the sort of performance that should set alarm bells ringing but one heavy defeat against a title-chasing team won’t shape their season.
Evidence of the short term thinking in betting markets is perfectly encapsulated with Sunderland being as short as 5/2 to win at the Liberty Stadium. Granted there has been an upturn in results but David Moyes was working from a very low base and on their seasonal shot numbers I still have them below Swansea and deep in a relegation battle.
The difference between the teams has been at both ends of the pitch. Sunderland are converting their chances at an above average rate (credit Jermain Defoe) and keeping them out at an above average rate (credit Jordan Pickford). Swansea are falling short on both counts.
Bob Bradley has the personnel at his disposal to move the numbers. Lukasz Fabianski is a solid goalkeeper whilst Gylfi Sigurdsson, Fernando Llorente and Borja Baston all have scoring potential.
At some stage Bradley, will solve the conundrum and they are slightly too big at 23/20 to win on Saturday.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 04:12 9th Dec, 2016 but subject to change
