There is little doubt that Dick Advocaat went into today's game against the Swans under a considerable amount of pressure after his side's poor start to the season that saw them start the morning pointless and bottom of the Premier League.

They have looked like a side without fight in their defeats to Leicester and Norwich and given the widespread criticism that they have received over the course of the past week then I am not sure that Advocaat would have been sleeping to well this week.

Indeed there had been some, albeit small, speculation that he may even consider throwing in the towel and walk away after all he was supposed to have retired back in the summer.

But there was no sign of that and Advocaat called for a response from his players that he believed that they got in the 1-1 draw.

Sunderland were second best in the game but Jermaine Defoe's second half goal cancelled out the stoppage time opener in the first half from Gomis and earned them a point which may not have lifted them off the bottom of the table but has probably given them some belief which may not have existed seven days ago.

“We played with the spirit that we did last year, which shows we can get results,” said Advocaat.

“The response was very good. We told them (the players) if they did what they did last season, the crowd will be behind you.

“Swansea are a very good side, and I’m very happy with the way the team responded from our first two games.”

Read more at http://www.swanseacity.net/news/article/monk-focussing-on-the-positives-2639253.

Photo: Action Images

Southampton Polls