Premier League
SwanseaSwansea City1EvertonEverton1

Swansea City 1-1 Everton

By Dafydd PritchardBBC Sport Wales at the Liberty Stadium
Kyle Naughton scores an own goal just before half-time
Goal line replays showed the ball crossed the line for Everton's goal after rebounding off Swansea's Kyle Naughton just before half-time

Everton boss Sam Allardyce praised Wayne Rooney's midfield performance as they picked up a point against Swansea City.

The 32-year-old had reacted angrily after being substituted just after half-time in the Toffees' goalless Merseyside derby draw against Liverpool on 7 April.

Despite a dominant start from Swansea, during which they had two shots cleared off the line, a Kyle Naughton own goal put Everton ahead.

Swansea kept control however, and their pressure paid off as Jordan Ayew levelled with a cool finish from inside the box.

"Wayne only had one shot but his contribution in possession was getting us moving forward better than our other midfield players and I was pleased with him," Allarydce told BBC Sport.

"I was pleased with everybody's effort but I think everyone's performance could have been better. Defensively we were very good today."

Allardyce highlighted Swansea's performance at the Liberty Stadium, where they are unbeaten in their past six Premier League games, as well as that of Toffees keeper Jordan Pickford.

"We want to pass the ball better and should have done. but the fighting spirit of a team at the bottom you have to deal with," he continued.

"We held our own and it could have been a different story. I'm sure Swansea are saying they should have won it and perhaps they should but our keeper takes some beating."

Seamus Coleman hit the bar for Everton late on, but the visitors' display prompted fury from their fans, who called for Allardyce to be sacked.

The draw keeps the Toffees ninth in the Premier League and, although the Swans drop one place to 17th, they are now five points clear of the bottom three thanks to Southampton's defeat by Chelsea.

Swansea edge closer to survival

Carlos Carvalhal has won eight of his 19 games in charge of Swansea City
Carlos Carvalhal has won eight of his 19 games in charge of Swansea City

Swansea were four points adrift at the bottom of the league before manager Carlos Carvalhal's appointment in December but they had moved four points above the relegation places.

However, they had plateaued a little having failed to win their previous three league games - and their season's tally of 75 shots on target remained the lowest in the division.

Carvalhal sought to address that issue with an attacking line-up which included recalls for top scorer Ayew - back from suspension - and winger Luciano Narsingh.

Their returns gave Swansea more pace and dynamism, helping the hosts set a fast tempo as they made a purposeful start to the game.

Ayew had a shot cleared off the line by Leighton Baines and, after Federico Fernandez's header was similarly blocked by Cenk Tosun from the corner, Ayew's clever flick set up his brother Andre for a shot which was saved by Jordan Pickford.

It was a busy afternoon for the Everton keeper but the longer Swansea allowed their long spells of pressure to continue without turning them into goals, the likelier it seemed they would come to rue their inability to convert their chances.

Despite conceding against the run of play, however, the Swans kept their foot on the throttle and peppered the Everton goal until their pressure bore fruit as Ayew struck his 11th goal of the season.

Carvalhal's men pushed for a winner and, although Huddersfield's late winner against Watford consigned the Swans to 17th in the table, this point could prove precious in their bid for survival.

Everton fans turn on Allardyce

While the spectre of relegation has all but vanished for Everton, there has been a creeping sense of discontent forming at Goodison Park.

Fans have become unhappy with the prosaic playing style under Allardyce, and there was little to quicken the pulse from his side here.

The visitors were fortunate not to fall behind in the first half but, at least when their first chance arrived, they took it.

On a rare counter-attack, Coleman's clipped cross found Yannick Bolasie unmarked at the back post and, although he and Idrissa Gueye both had shots saved by Lukasz Fabianski in quick succession, the ball bounced up and hit an unsuspecting Naughton before going in.

If that seemed like a false reprieve, it did not seem to fool Everton's fans, who expressed their displeasure with a string of derogatory chants about their team and manager.

And once Ayew equalised, the travelling supporters turned their fury specifically towards Allardyce, calling for his sacking after yet another uninspiring display.

Man of the match - Jordan Ayew

Swansea's top scorer created several chances in an energetic, inventive performance, which he capped with an excellent goal.
Swansea's top scorer created several chances in an energetic, inventive performance, which he capped with an excellent goal

'We deserved more'

Swansea City boss Carlos Carvalhal, speaking to BBC Sport: "We played well enough to win and we did enough to. We tried to help the players to win and made substitutions to do that.

"We were the better team on the pitch against an organised team who were very combative.

"We deserved more than what we achieved, we had a great game. We believe we'll get the points to stay up.

"Like all teams we were lucky and the first goal in games like this is is important."

Swansea 1-1 Everton: Swans did enough to win - Carlos Carvalhal

Everton boss Sam Allardyce, speaking to BBC Sport: "We've come here and got the lead and dug out a point. It was a battling point, no doubt.

"There are teams fighting at the bottom and Swansea showed a lot spirit.

"Seamus Coleman could have won it but when you get a point away from home you have to respect it in the Premier League.

"It's not the best performance but it moves us on. Our home form is our mainstay, we've been brilliant there this season."

Swansea 1-1 Everton: Sam Allardyce satisfied with 'great' point

Stats - Swansea extend unbeaten run at the Liberty Stadium

  • Swansea have only lost one of their last eight Premier League meetings with Everton (W2 D5), with the Swans unbeaten in their last four at Liberty Stadium (W1 D3).
  • Swansea City have conceded 13 own goals in the Premier League since 2014-15; five more than any other side.
  • Since keeping two clean sheets in December, Everton have conceded in each of their last seven Premier League games on the road.
  • Jordan Ayew has scored in three of his last four Premier League games at Liberty Stadium, including of his last two.
  • In fact, Ayew has scored seven goals this season in the Premier League - equalling his best-ever tally from 2015-16.
  • Tom Carroll recorded his fourth Premier League assist of the season - double his tally from last season.

What's next?

Swansea City travel to face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 22 April (16:30 BST) before welcoming Chelsea six days later (17:30 BST).

Everton have an eight-day wait until their next match, when they take on Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Monday, 23 April (20:00 BST).

Line-ups

Swansea

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Fabianski
  • 26Naughton
  • 33Fernandez
  • 6Mawson
  • 16Olsson
  • 11NarsinghSubstituted forDyerat 45'minutes
  • 4Ki Sung-yuengSubstituted forAbrahamat 65'minutes
  • 24King
  • 14Carroll
  • 19A Ayew
  • 18J AyewBooked at 55mins

Substitutes

  • 5van der Hoorn
  • 10Abraham
  • 12Dyer
  • 13Nordfeldt
  • 15Routledge
  • 27Bartley
  • 52Roberts

Everton

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Pickford
  • 23Coleman
  • 6Jagielka
  • 4Keane
  • 3Baines
  • 2Schneiderlin
  • 17GueyeSubstituted forBaningimeat 69'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 11Walcott
  • 10RooneySubstituted forVlasicat 87'minutes
  • 7BolasieSubstituted forFunes Moriat 76'minutes
  • 14Tosun

Substitutes

  • 15Martina
  • 19Niasse
  • 25Funes Mori
  • 26Davies
  • 27Vlasic
  • 33Robles
  • 54Baningime
Referee:
Lee Mason
Attendance:
20,933

Match Stats

Home TeamSwanseaAway TeamEverton
Possession
Home51%
Away49%
Shots
Home17
Away12
Shots on Target
Home7
Away3
Corners
Home6
Away3
Fouls
Home10
Away11

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Swansea City 1, Everton 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Swansea City 1, Everton 1.

  3. Booking

    Beni Baningime (Everton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  4. Post update

    Martin Olsson (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Beni Baningime (Everton).

  6. Post update

    Hand ball by Kyle Naughton (Swansea City).

  7. Post update

    Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Ramiro Funes Mori.

  8. Post update

    Nathan Dyer (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Nikola Vlasic (Everton).

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Everton. Nikola Vlasic replaces Wayne Rooney.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Federico Fernández (Swansea City).

  12. Post update

    Theo Walcott (Everton) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  13. Post update

    Offside, Swansea City. Martin Olsson tries a through ball, but André Ayew is caught offside.

  14. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  15. Post update

    Delay in match Beni Baningime (Everton) because of an injury.

  16. Post update

    Attempt missed. Wayne Rooney (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Nathan Dyer (Swansea City).

  18. Post update

    Theo Walcott (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. Tammy Abraham (Swansea City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jordan Ayew with a headed pass following a set piece situation.

  20. Post update

    Nathan Dyer (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City33283293256887
2Man Utd32225563253871
3Liverpool342010478354370
4Tottenham33207665303567
5Chelsea33186957332460
6Arsenal321661061431854
7Burnley33141093329452
8Leicester331110124947243
9Everton34119143954-1542
10Newcastle32108143341-838
11Bournemouth34911144156-1538
12Watford34107174260-1837
13Brighton33811143146-1535
14Huddersfield3498172754-2735
15West Ham32810144058-1834
16Crystal Palace34810163654-1834
17Swansea3389162746-1933
18Southampton33513153353-2028
19Stoke3369183063-3327
20West Brom33312182652-2621
View full Premier League table

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