Poyet reign starts with heavy loss

Gus Poyet's reign as Sunderland manager got off to a woeful start as the English Premier League's bottom club collapsed to a 4-0 loss at Swansea on Saturday.

Swansea scored four goals in 24 minutes during the second half, with Phil Bardsley putting the ball in his own net following a corner in the 57th minute to begin the visitors' meltdown.

Jonathan de Guzman curled home brilliantly from the edge of the area a minute later and Wilfried Bony converted a 64th-minute penalty to make it 3-0 after Leon Britton was fouled.

Chico Flores added a fourth in the 80th from De Guzman's cross, illustrating the size of the task facing Poyet after taking over from Paolo Di Canio.

Sunderland has one point from eight games.

Steven Pienaar scored less than 30 seconds after coming on a substitute in the second half to give Everton a 2-1 win over Hull.

Pienaar marked his return from a hamstring injury by meeting a cross from Kevin Mirallas in the 57th minute and slotting it in with his first touch.

Mirallas had put Everton ahead in the eighth minute with a shot from outside the area, but substitute Yannick Sagbo equalized for Hull in the 30th from a cross by Sone Aluko.

The win gives Everton 15 points from eight games under new manager Roberto Martinez, four points behind leader Arsenal and within striking distance of the top four Champions League spots.

Stoke's offensive misery continued as Mark Hughes' team was held to a 0-0 home draw by West Bromwich Albion.

Stoke has scored just one goal in its last five matches.

Now on a five-match unbeaten run, West Brom appealed for a penalty in the second half after Youssouf Mulumbu appeared to be fouled by Charlie Adam, but referee Howard Webb waved the claims away.

Stephane Sessegnon had the visitors' best chance but saw his shot blocked by Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.