Stu Forster/Getty ImagesSwansea's Danny Graham was th center of attention for both groups of supporters in the Swans' scoreless draw at Sunderland.

'The Danny Graham Game' turned out to be a damp cap in the toy gun of Tuesday night's Premier League fixtures. Having said that, I haven't seen the QPR versus Manchester City highlights. That game also ended scoreless, although the implications of a point each for both relegation-threatened Rangers and title-chasing City are at least interesting.

Back to Swansea and Sunderland. The first half was a slow burner which saw the Swans play some pretty football without scaring Simon Mignolet in the Sunderland goal. After the interval, it seemed as though Swansea left their finesse in the dressing room while Sunderland put on a pot of coffee and remembered they were meant to be playing football tonight.

- Match report: Sunderland 0-0 Swansea

Sunderland enjoyed a lot more of the ball in the second half but managed to end the match without registering a single shot on target. Meanwhile it seemed as though every important Swansea pass was hit half a foot behind its intended recipient, which meant time and again exciting counter-attacks routinely fell apart before anything good could happen.

If nothing else, the game amply demonstrated that whatever happens with Graham, Michael Laudrup needs another striker. I say this based on the understanding that Graham's tenure as starting striker is over regardless of whether he stays in Swansea past the end of this month.

Itay Shechter got his second consecutive league start and once again Shechter spent most of the game putting a forest of opposing shirts between him and the ball carrier. The striker's movement is baffling at times; he seems to be almost deliberately avoiding the action, presumably in an attempt to be elusive. Evidentially, he is certainly that.

Shechter did nearly win an early penalty, so there is that. However, on at least one occasion, Shechter was too easily pushed off the ball in the box, which is hardly an ideal attribute for a lone striker. Suddenly, Laudrup's interest in the physically intimidating Kenwyne Jones makes a great deal of sense.

With 15 minutes to play, Laudrup satisfied everyone's curiosity and brought Graham on from the bench. Graham was met with a stadium-wide swell of boos and cat-calls from his potential new fans, and could have endeared himself to them even more had his late shot from the edge of the six yard box not been blocked by Titus Bramble's ample frame.

Graham is fast becoming a tragic figure. He has been marginalised at Swansea, and thanks to an interview in which he insulted Sunderland in the past, he is now already reviled by the fan base of the one team with any serious interest in acquiring him. If Graham doesn't go to Sunderland, then chances are he remains at Swansea and stays a bit part player after having been the side's top scorer last season. And this situation doesn't help the Swans one bit either.

Shechter is not quite up to the job. Michu is happier in the hole, and Luke Moore has one foot out of the door already, having not been part of the squad in weeks and out of contract in the summer. If Graham stays, and no-one else joins, Laudrup has to reconsider playing the Geordie every week. He is a proven Premier League goal-scorer if nothing else. If that isn't going to happen, then the Swans must sell and sell soon, and they must buy soon too. Keeping clean sheets is a fine thing; granting them is a less impressive trick.

Final Thoughts:

Positives: Reasonable first half. Clean sheet. Barely gave up a shot.

Negatives: Sloppy second half. No goals.

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Email