EVERTON VS SWANSEA CITY – REVIEW
Everton failed to make it three Premier League wins in a row on Saturday as they drew 0-0 with Swansea in a dull game at Goodison Park.
It was a game Everton dominated but chances were few and far between for both teams. The lively Aiden McGeady curled an effort just wide, Samuel Eto’o volleyed straight at Lukas Fabianski while late on, substitute Romelu Lukaku couldn’t get on the end of a low Eto’o cross. Lukaku failed to make an impact as he squandered that chance, got in the way of Leighton Baines’ rasping effort and couldn’t control a shot that deflected his way. These passages of play summed up a largely frustrating game where Roberto Martinez felt the ball was not moved quickly enough.
We were lucky not to fall behind when Wilfried Bony missed a one on one and also had luck on our side when the ball struck the hand of Antolin Alcaraz and no penalty was given.
Throughout, the game lacked intensity and it’s the first time we have drawn 0-0 since the 9th of November last year. Gareth Barry picked up another yellow card meaning one more booking before the New Year will see him suspended for one match. Steven Naismith is in the same situation.
It’s the first time we haven’t scored in a league match this year and that added to the disappointment of the result. It’s two points dropped and makes winning against Sunderland and West Ham in our next two games even more important. Fortress Goodison, one of our biggest assets over the past couple of years has been missing this season and that needs to change.
Alcaraz damaged a joint in his shoulder and he is expected to be out until next year. Barry slotted in at centre back for the rest of the game and although he did very well, Sylvain Distin and Tyias Browning will be called upon for the foreseeable future.
On the plus side, we added another clean sheet to our collection and have now conceded just one goal in our last four games. We need to move on from this game and bring the performance levels of the Aston Villa win a few weeks ago into every match starting with our crunch Europa League game against Lille on Thursday.
Man of the Match: James McCarthy.
Player Ratings
| Tim Howard 7/10 | Aiden McGeady 7/10 |
| Seamus Coleman 6/10 | Ross Barkley 6.5/10 |
| Phil Jagielka 7/10 | Steven Naismith 6/10 |
| Gareth Barry 8/10 | Samuel Eto’o 7/10 |
| Leighton Baines 6.5/10 | Romelu Lukaku 5/10 |
| Muhamed Besic 7/10 | Steven Pienaar 6.5/10 |
| James McCarthy 8.5/10 | Antolin Alcaraz N/A |
Eoin Leeson.
https://twitter.com/LeesonEoin_EFC