Luke Williams | It was a really rounded performance

Swansea City head coach Luke Williams praised a rounded performance from his side as a fine team display was rewarded with a 2-1 win and three points at Sunderland.

A brace from Ronald – the Brazilian’s first goals for the club – secured the spoils at the Stadium of Light.

The Brazilian put away a rebound at the end of a sweeping team attack to open the scoring, and then profited by volleying home when Joe Allen pinched possession in midfield to pick him out on the right side of the area.

It gave the Swans a 2-0 lead at the break, one which easily could have been greater such was their dominance.

They had to deal with Sunderland pressure after Luke O’Nien pulled a goal back for the Black Cats late on, but showed resilience to claim victory.

And Williams felt the showing on Wearside, particularly the first half, was the best of his tenure so far.

“I am really happy. I think in the first half, with the ball, we were very aggressive and very attacking,” he said.

“In the second half you could see the character and determination to protect it, so it was a pretty rounded performance.

“I think it’s fair to say the first half was the best 45 minutes of my time here so far, to come to a place like this, which can be quite intimidating, and really dominate was really encouraging.

“We want to try and see a team that can be really fluid with the ball, but also one that can be mean and press and take the ball off the opposition. The goals were a really great example.”

Williams, his staff and the squad celebrated the win with the hundreds of members of the Jack Army who had made the long journey to the north-east, but the Swans boss was keen to make sure his players were the ones taking the plaudits.

“It’s not for me to be the one doing the fist bumps and things like that because all I have done is stand at the side of the pitch and watch,” he said.

“The players are the ones who leave everything out there. Ronald is out there with a plug up his nose and blood running on his shirt, and he has scored the two great goals to help us win.

“So I want the players to be the ones having those beautiful moments with the fans.

“I did get to spend time with some of fans on the flight up here, and that was a beautiful experience because of the love they showed myself and the players.

“That was wonderful, but the players are the ones who put in the work and should take the credit.”