Monk: Swansea lacked clinical edge

Bafetimbi Gomis had given the Swans the lead on the stroke of half-time but the visitors found Costel Pantilimon in outstanding form as he denied Gomis, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jefferson Montero among others after the break.
Jermain Defoe’s equaliser on the hour mark ensured Sunderland gained the first point of the season but Monk was a ‘little’ disappointed his side could not find that killer second goal.
He said: “We knew there was going to be a reaction from Sunderland after the criticism they received in the last couple of games, especially last week, they were always going to have a good reaction.
“You saw that in the first 20 minutes, half an hour, with that crowd, fantastic support for them – it was important we got through that period.
“In the last 15 minutes of the first half we started to take control, got a good goal and then in that first 20 minutes in the second half we were dominant and totally controlling it.
“I said to the players there, if anything, that’s where we lost the game because we were so dominant creating good chances, you need to kill them off and get that second goal and we couldn’t quite do it.
“Some very good saves from their keeper kept them in the game and we made that one mistake and they ended up getting the goal back. A little bit disappointed we didn’t get the three points but it is another point and we move on.”
Monk refused to be too hard on his players after an impressive start to the season but was disappointed to concede as Swansea looked more likely to get the second goal of the game and secure all three points.
He especially highlighted a fantastic Pantilimon save to deny a Gomis header from close range as key in the match.
“It was just an individual mistake and we didn’t make the right decision at that point and got punished heavily for it and that was disappointing as at that time we were in total control and really attacking well and creating numerous opportunities,” he said.
“Their keeper had a fantastic game – that one save he made, not many keepers would have made that save. We just needed that second goal, we needed one of those chances to go in and I think it would have possibly killed the game off and made the three points for us.
“I can’t be too disappointed with the players, their effort and commitment, and that quality, especially in that 20 minutes, was excellent and it is about building on that. Unbeaten and a good start to the season and we will try and move on with that.”