Everton 1 Swansea City 2
Man of the Match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City)
LIVERPOOL // It could be deemed another instance of the new-manager bounce yet Francesco Guidolin’s debut win as Swansea’s new manager was also attributable to two of his predecessors.
The temptation, of course, is to credit the Italian, who stood nervously on the edge of his technical area, bedecked in a newly acquired club tracksuit, as his 17th managerial posting began brilliantly. But Guidolin’s first game actually brought Swansea’s second successive win.
This is a revival instigated by Alan Curtis, the interim manager who was promptly demoted to make way for the 60-year-old Italian. A maiden league victory over Everton, a club they first faced in 1930, also said something about Roberto Martinez, the architect of Swansea’s modern-day golden age.
Because Everton’s self-destructive streak was glaringly apparent again. The Spaniard’s side offer the wrong sort of entertainment too often. They have only won three home league games, two against the bottom two teams and, for the seventh time this season, they conceded at least twice at Goodison Park.
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“We haven’t found the right way of playing at home,” Martinez said. “The stats reflect a really poor defensive record.”
Indeed, no team concedes more on their own turf. Everton’s errors appear contagious, and their most highly-rated centre-back is increasingly culpable. Casualness has crept into John Stones’ game and his under-hit back pass was anticipated by Andre Ayew. Tim Howard took an almighty swipe, upending the Ghanaian, and dived the wrong way as Gylfi Sigurdsson converted the resulting penalty.
Swansea’s second involved many of the same personnel, with Ayew’s shot deflecting off a sliding Stones to beat Howard. Everton argued Ashley Williams had handled to regain possession. Everton were aggrieved again when Seamus Coleman’s cross hit Neil Taylor’s arm and referee Anthony Taylor declined to award a penalty.
“The clearest one is the handball of Ashley Williams,” Martinez said.
Williams nevertheless marshalled the defence excellently. Sigurdsson was tireless, Ayew excellent. In some respects, Guidolin’s inheritance is a fine one.
“Six points in two matches is very important because the table was not good,” he said. With the players Swansea possess, they should not be in a relegation struggle.
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With the talent of those at Martinez’s disposal, Everton should be in the top six. Instead, after losing a meeting of two of the campaign’s great underachievers, they reside in the bottom half of the table.
The goal they scored was classy. Often a specialist in doing the seemingly simple, Gareth Barry made a rare foray into the world of the spectacular, performing a mid-air flick to redirect Gerard Deulofeu’s corner in. They should have scored from a second set-piece, but Coleman missed an open goal with the last kick of the game. Ross Barkley had been similarly profligate earlier. “We created enough chances to win the game,” Martinez said.
His losses extended beyond the result. Muhamed Besic, a combative catalyst of late, only lasted 10 minutes, in which he struck the outside of the post, before being hamstrung While Martinez took the precaution of resting Phil Jagielka, Everton’s injury problems worsened with Kevin Mirallas also departing.
“It is a real shame,” said Martinez. “I don’t expect them to be fit for Wednesday.”
And so the beneficiaries could be Manchester City, who face the Merseysiders in the League Cup semi-final second leg. They meet a group who are both defeated and depleted.
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