19/11/2016 15:00 v Everton

16th June

The Swans were denied a crucial away win as Everton snatched a point thanks to Seamus Coleman's 89th-minute equaliser.

Bob Bradley's side looked to be heading for all three points at Goodison Park courtesy of Gylfi Sigurdsson's first-half penalty.

But the Swans were forced to soak up plenty of pressure in the second half, and the honours were shared as Coleman headed home at the death.

It was a cruel end to a game in which the Swans put in one of their best performances of the campaign.

The point was not enough to stop Bradley's men from dropping to the bottom of the table, though, as Sunderland's win over Hull put them two points ahead.

This draw leaves the Swans on six points from 12 games - five points adrift of West Ham and Crystal Palace, who visit the Liberty next week.

Swans boss Bob Bradley made eight changes to the starting XI, with new faces across the back four.

Everton included ex-Swans skipper Ashley Williams in their line-up as he faced his former club for the first time since leaving SA1.

After a relatively quiet opening 20 minutes, the Swans settled further into the game.

Lukasz Fabianski collected Romelu Lukaku's bouncing effort after his initial parry, while. at the other end, Leroy Fer wasted a decent opportunity when he skied his 20-yard effort.

The Swans were containing the hosts, and their shape seemed to thwart their attacking options.

Bradley's side looked busy on the counter-attack though, and when Modou Barrow was clattered by Ashley Williams, the Swans had a free-kick in a dangerous position.

Gylfi Sigurdsson stepped up, and his deflected effort was tipped over the crossbar by the diving Maarten Stekelenburg.

Then, from the corner, Jordi Amat rose highest only to direct his powerful header inches over.

Everton were probing though, and the best chance of the game so far fell to Lukaku, but he directed Yannick Bolasie's fine cross over from just six yards.

The lively Barkley fired wide on the turn from a Bolasie cross, while the former then saw his low free-kick spilled by Fabianski.

A minute later, the Swans took the lead. With 41 minutes on the clock, Barrow touched on to Sigurdsson, who took a first touch into the box before feinting a shot and was then hauled down by Phil Jagielka.

Sigurdsson, as he did at this ground last season, fired home the penalty to send the Jack Army into elation.

There was still more drama to come, however, as Bolasie found himself in on goal with only Fabianski to beat, but the Polish keeper came out on top to deflect his effort wide.

That was the end of a thrilling first half, with the Swans protecting a precious lead.

The Swans were made to dig deep at soak up the waves of Everton pressure after the break. In terms of chances, they were few and far between as the away defence held firm.

But for all the Swans' defensive effort, Everton found a way through.

After Sigurdsson had been denied by Stekelenburg late on, the hosts levelled in the 89th minute.

The Swans failed to clear a cross, and Coleman rose to nod perfectly into the top corner.

That wasn't it, for there were four minutes of added time to survive.

The Swans did hold on for a point despite the late pressure, though they slipped to the bottom of the table as Sunderland beat Hull City.
 


EVERTON: Maarten Stekelenburg, Leighton Baines, Ashley Williams, Phil Jagielka (capt, Enner Valencia, 83), Ross Barkley, Romelu Lukaku, Aaron Lennon (Gerard Deulofeu, 66), Yannick Bolasie, James McCarthy (Kevin Mirallas, 72), Idrissa Gueye, Seamus Coleman.
SUBS: Joel Robles, Tom Cleverley, Ramiro Funes Mori, Mason Holgate.

SWANS: Lukasz Fabianski, Kyle Naughton, Federico Fernandez, Jordi Amat, Neil Taylor, Jack Cork (capt), Jay Fulton (Ki Sung-Yueng, 87), Leroy Fer, Wayne Routledge, Modou Barrow (Nathan Dyer, 81), Gylfi Sigurdsson.
SUBS: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Angel Rangel, Mike van der Hoorn, Borja, Oliver McBurnie.