Swansea earn hard-fought draw

Everton were left frustrated and goalless despite dominating much of their Premier League game that ended 0-0 against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

Swansea 0 Everton 0
Both teams guilty of sloppy play
Quality improved in second half
Neither side able to find breakthrough
Mirallas sent off late on

Match Summary

Errors and sloppy passing were the order of the day in the first-half as both sides looked nervy in possession.

The visitors dominated play but were unable to create much by way of meaningful chances, although the second-half saw a dramatic increase in terms of quality of football being played and the Toffees began converting their dominance into chances.

However, through a combination of effective, if not desperate defending, and a solid performance from goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, the Swans were able to hang on for a point.

Kevin Mirallas was given his marching orders three minutes into injury time for a stupid stamp on Jordan Barrow just two minutes after he was introduced as a late sub.

Full Report

It was a slow start to the game at the Liberty Stadium as Everton dominated possession for the first quarter of an hour seemed incapable of turning their advantage into meaningful chances.

After successfully weathering the early pressure the Swans began building confidence and started moving forward. Bafetimbi Gomis did well to adjust his body and get a shot off in the 17th minute after Naughton's cross was behind him, but Tim Howard made an easy save.

Just a minute later Gomis should have given the hosts the lead as he took advantage of a poor header from Gareth Barry to burst through the Everton defence, but he disappointingly scuffed his shot wide of the target.

Everton's best chance of the first half fell to Romelu Lukaku in the 38th minute as Ross Barkley poached the ball from Jack Cork and shifted the ball to the Belgian striker in a dangerous position, but Ashley Williams got across to make a crucial deflection over the bar.

Lukaku should have put the Toffees in front in the 53 minute as he was played in by Barry, but the striker hit his shot and wide with just Lukasz Fabianski to beat.

Everton went close again five minutes later as Ashley Williams got across at the last second to hack Lukaku's poorly struck shot off the goal-line.

It was Swansea's turn in the 62nd minute as Jefferson Montero used some impressive trickery to get past Tyias Browning and unleash a powerful shot that Howard did well to tip over the bar.

The Swans had Williams to thank again in the 71st minute as, after a bit of aerial ping pong, the ball fell to Brendan Galloway, but his fierce shot was headed over the bar by the defender.

Lukaku fluffed another one-one-one opportunity in the 75th minute as Fabianski was quick off his line to close down the angle and make a smart save.

Everton manager Roberto Martínez will not be pleased with Mirallas who, after coming on as a 91st minute substitute went over the ball to stomp on Barrow's ankle and get sent off in the 93rd minute of the game.

The Toffees were by far the better team in a much-improved second half but, ultimately, they were unable to break down a dogged Swansea defence and the teams shared the points.