Swansea City’s new head coach Francesco Guidolin delivered a rare away victory for the Swans in his first game against Everton on Sunday at Goodison Park. The Jacks defeated the Toffees 2-1 to record their second away win this season in the Premier League. Plus the Welsh club beat the Blues for the first time ever in league play.
However, the historic day for Swansea was not down to a dominating match for the attack, but they did take their chances when they came. The Welsh club struggled to create seven shots at Goodison Park as the midfield of Everton hardly lost the ball. The Toffees had a 20 percent advantage of possession over the Jacks. However, regardless of the limited minutes Swansea had on the ball, they still placed five shots on target.
On the other hand the defence of the Swans put in a heroic performance. Everton created 20 chances in the game, but Swansea’s stubborn defense blocked seven and only allowed two shots on target. The defence completed 17 tackles and Jacks’ goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski made just two saves in the victory.
Strong start for both sides
The Jacks started the match with a gift from Everton defender John Stones. The 21-year-old defender committed an error by attempting to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Tim Howard. Stones failed to make a clean touch on the ball and Swansea speedster Andre Ayew intercepted the pass.
Howard was forced to tackle Ayew in the penalty box. As a result Swans midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson buried the penalty to the top left hand corner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute.
However, the Jacks failed to build on the lead as the Toffees tied the game up a few minutes later. Blues midfielder Gareth Barry managed to make contact with a pass that came from a corner kick. His shot seemed harmless, but then the ball deflected of Swans midfielder Jack Cork’s leg and into the net. The dream start for the Welsh club ended with an own goal from Cork in the 26th minute to tie the game at 1-1.
Swansea edge ahead at the break
However, the Welsh club rebounded right away as defender Neil Taylor sent Ayew into the penalty box with a through ball. The Ghanaian international collected the ball and fired the shot. The ball was heading towards the right hand corner and Howard positioned himself to make the save.
However, in the last second Stones attempted to stop the shot, instead the ball deflected of his leg and into the net restoring Swansea 2-1 after a crazy 17 minute spell.
The Welsh club fought their way back and recaptured the lead. However, for the rest of the game and for the entire second half the Swans had to bunker in. In the final 45 minutes Everton created 12 of their 20 shots.
Hard fought defensive display secure the win
The Jacks were not intimidated as they kept on forcing the Blues into taking tough shots. Their stingy and physical defense only gave up one shot on target and blocked four of them as well. However, their grit also got them 12 fouls and three yellow cards in the process.
However, as the game carried on the Jacks were exhausted. In the second half the Toffees produced eight chances in the box. Six of those shots were off target, so in the end the Blues let the game slip out of their hands.
With this victory the Welsh club has jumped to 15th in the table with 25 points and a negative nine goal differential. They are now within striking range of climbing as high as 13th if they defeat West Bromwich Albion next time out at the Hawthorns.
Swansea are behind 14th Chelsea due to goal differential (25 points) and 13th West Brom who have 28 points. However, a draw or a defeat against West Brom might see them drop to 16th or 17th and back into the relegation fight. So the Welsh club still has some work to do before they are safe from playing in the Championship next season.