FA Cup: Result - Everton 3-1 Swansea

Roberto Martínez's hold on the FA Cup remains intact after Everton took advantage of a much-changed Swansea City side to ease into the quarter-finals. A lively cameo from the substitute Steven Naismith, who scored, won a penalty and left the field with a head injury – all inside 27 minutes – was the decisive factor against Garry Monk's visitors.



Everton had the luxury of an early goal from the debutant Lacina Traoré against weakened opposition but it was not until the second half that they found the urgency and concentration to truly capitalise. Martínez forewarned about handling expectation, and Everton's must have risen when they discovered Monk had made eight changes to the Swansea side that started at Stoke City in midweek, but the home side laboured badly before mounting a strong recovery.





Swansea should have been in front with only 30 seconds gone. Alvaro Vázquez was released into space behind Phil Jagielka, an area the visitors sought to exploit all afternoon, but despite rounding the goalkeeper Joel Robles he resisted taking a first time shot with his left foot and was eventually crowded out. This miss assumed added significance shortly afterwards when Traoré made an immediate impression on his first outing since a January loan move from Monaco.



Sylvain Distin was instrumental in the breakthrough from a Kevin Mirallas' free-kick. The Everton defender won the header at the back post then had the presence of mind to pick out Traoré after Kyle Bartley had missed the opportunity to clear. At close range, and facing away from goal, the six foot eight inch Ivory Coast international flicked out a telescopic leg to heel the ball past Ashley Richards on the line.



Any thoughts that Everton would cruise into the quarter-finals were initially dispelled as Swansea reacted better to Traoré's goal than the hosts. Monk's changes stemmed from Swansea's league position and a Europa League date with Napoli on Thursday but did not disrupt the team's energetic, probing play in the final third. And they were soon back on level terms courtesy of a fine header from Jonathan de Guzmán.



Everton were under pressure after Steven Pienaar carelessly conceded a corner. Though cleared, Swansea patiently retained possession and Roland Lamah floated an inviting cross over Everton's central defenders for De Guzmán to compliment an intelligent run into the area with a powerful header beyond Robles.



Pienaar almost atoned immediately with a superb touch to release Baines and a shot against the bar from the return pass, Traoré forcing Gerhard Tremmel into a decent save from the rebound. It was only after the interval, however, that Martínez's team showed the energy to stretch and trouble Swansea and ultimately eased their way into the last eight as a result.



There appeared more belief and less apprehension from Everton from the restart as Ross Barkley tested Tremmel from the edge of the area and Pienaar put a diving header just wide from Seamus Coleman's right-wing cross. But it was the introduction of Naismith for the tiring Traoré that changed the course of the tie. Within five minutes of his introduction the Scotland international scored his fourth goal in five appearances when he capitalised on a poor back-pass from Neil Taylor and slotted under Tremmel.



Naismith was then first to a loose ball inside the Swansea area after a good challenge from Leighton Baines and scythed down by Richards for a clear penalty. Baines duly obliged with his 15th successful spot-kick in 16 attempts for Everton.