Swansea's progress through the first three matches of their Premier League season presents a half-glass situation for Swans fans; those who worry that the team have yet to score will see the glass half empty, though they needn't worry. Swansea created a handful of chances against Wigan but doubled their efforts versus Sunderland, with Danny Graham alone coming close on no less than four separate occasions. Graham ought to have buried his first header, unmarked and maybe ten yards out. Although his miss will have left Swans fans shaking their heads, he should be commended for finding so much space against a seasoned Premier League defence. With at least half a dozen other quality chances, the best of which saw Scott Sinclair rattle a spectacular shot off the underside of the crossbar, it is clear the Swans attack is growing in confidence; the team were frankly unlucky not to have won the game.

Meanwhile, the glass half-full contingent of the Swans faithful will acknowledge the team has managed to put up two clean sheets in three matches; a remarkable feat for a newly promoted side, and one not equalled by fellow partners in promotion QPR or Norwich. Pre-season appraisals of the new clubs survival chances persistently pointed to defence as the most important aspect in staying up. Swansea received more than their fair share of such speculation, despite achieving the Championships second best defensive record last year. Comparisons to Blackpool downplayed the defensive superiority of Rodgers side, and it is gratifying that the team expected to play the most entertaining attacking football has so far also been the hardest to score against. Granted, the incredible Michel Vorm has had a significant hand (or two) in that, but the record speaks for itself. Those Swans fans still too concerned with the other end of the field ought to take heart; Swansea might have had a slow start where scoring is concerned, but they've hit the ground running at the one end which arguably matters most.

Of course, it would be naive to suggest the Swans have been a brick wall; in fact, the best Sunderland chances all came from Swansea mistakes. This in itself is a bittersweet state of affairs- on the one hand, it is a good sign that Sunderland struggled to manufacture chances for themselves; on the other hand, that didn't matter much as they were gifted a handful of chances by lapses from Swans players. Two turnovers in particular came as a result of Sunderland putting intense pressure on the man. It was almost as though the Swans players were not communicating, no shouts of "man on" to forewarn Leon Britton and Stephen Dobbie as they were ambushed and stripped of possession too easily.

Swansea's play from full-back was better going forward, particularly from Neil Taylor who pitched a beautiful cross for Danny Graham in the second half, but the wide defenders are still a little too quick to push up the field; central defenders Ash Williams and Stephen Caulker were both pressured by Sunderland into making mistakes, largely due to a lack of passing options upfield. If the full backs could just hold back a little longer, they would give the centre backs a safe option to play the ball out. Caulker's mistake - a soft, no-look back pass in lieu of any better options - was rescued by Michel Vorm, who this time came to the edge of his box to put in a solid tackle. I fancy Vorm to score a goal next time out; he's done practically everything else already.

If Swansea can eliminate or at least limit these kinds of mistakes and continue to ride the excellent form of Michel Vorm in goal, I am sure goals will come at the other end. The symbiosis between attack and defence means that keeping clean sheets takes a lot of pressure off the attack; one goal would have done it in either of the last two games. That's a lot better than having to come from behind or struggling to hold a lead. Of course, Swansea haven't yet been in position to try and hold onto a lead, but with the chaos at next opponents Arsenal clearly taking that club out of it's comfort zone, maybe Swansea can pull off a shock at the Emirates. Then again, maybe it'll be another no score draw. I'd happily settle for that.

Positives : Created chances. Made it hard for Sunderland to create chances. Michel Vorm (again).

Negatives : Wasted chances. Brought a big roll of giftwrap with Asamoah Gyan's name on it.

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