Frustration for Roberto Martinez's men

Everton FC 0-0 Swansea City final whistle report: Frustration for Roberto Martinez's men as the Blues can't find a way past the Swans

Swansea, down to 10 men in the second half, held firm to stop Everton in Martinez's 200th Premier League game

Everton vs Swansea at Goodison Park. Everton's James McCarthy fires in on goal. Photo by Colin Lane
So much for a happy anniversary.

Roberto Martinez 's 200 game as a Premier League manager proved a forgettable one as current club Everton FC drew a blank against former charges Swansea City at Goodison.

But while a frustrating afternoon for the Blues, there could be few complaints at the final outcome.

Swansea were reduced to 10 men in the 72 minute when former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Everton, though, struggled to find a cutting edge against a well-drilled visiting defence despite a stirring injury-time in which substitute Romelu Lukaku almost snatched victory.

The Blues were looking to extend a proud record of having never lost to Swansea in 18 previous league meetings.

However, Martinez's men were thumped 3-0 in South Wales when the teams met in a Capital One Cup third round tie in September.

It was also a landmark match for Ross Barkley , the youngster returning to the starting line-up for his 50 Premier League appearance for the Blues.

Making way was Lukaku, the Belgian dropped to the bench despite scoring in last week's victory at Burnley with Samuel Eto'o, who netted twice at Turf Moor, the lone striker.

The only other change saw Aiden McGeady back on the right flank in place of Leon Osman.

Everton created the first chance after only 25 seconds. Swansea struggled to clear their lines but a shot of the half-turn from Eto'o was comfortably claimed by visiting goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.



But the Blues had a lucky escape when Swansea spurned a glorious chance to take the lead on five minutes.

Gylfi Sigurdsson found space between the Blues defence and midfield to play in Wilfried Bony.

The striker, played onside by Leighton Baines , took a moment to steady himself but then directed his shot the wrong side of Tim Howard's near post.

A relieved Everton swiftly regained the initiative, but the longer the first half progressed the more the sense of frustration grew inside Goodison at their inability to seriously threaten Fabianski.

The keeper, though, was a little fortunate on nine minutes to fumbled the ball out for a corner rather than over his own goalline when making a meal of a speculative low show from McGeady.

Eto'o was then brought down by Ki 25 yards out, but Baines curled the free-kick harmlessly wide from 25 yards.

Fabianski then made a routine stop to deny Gareth Barry from range, while Angel Rangel produced a fine clearing header to reach a deep McGeady cross before the loitering Eto'o.

While content to soak up pressure, Swansea were not without their chances.

James McCarthy was alert to break up a counter-attack involving the dangerous Jefferson Montero and Wayne Routledge.

And Swansea had strong claims for a penalty when, after McGeady cheaply coughed up possession, a Jonjo Shelvey shot was blocked by the arm of the grounded Antolin Alcaraz.

Alcaraz was involved in a penalty incident in the other box when caught heavily by Bony when challenging for a header.

Referee Kevin Friend waved away appeals. Alcaraz, though, needed lengthy treatment on the field and ultimately departed clutching his shoulder.

With Sylvain Distin not on the bench, Muhamed Besic was introduced as Barry dropped to centre-back alongside Phil Jagielka.

Barry was almost caught dozing by Routledge shortly after the interval as Swansea began to threaten.

A fine turn and pass by Bony released Shelvey but the midfielder rushed his shot wide with Montero screaming for a pass, while Sigurdsson had time to bring the ball down inside the area instead of volleying well over.

McGeady cut inside to curl a shot wide on 64 minutes, his last action before joining Steven Naismith in being given the hook as Martinez introduced Lukaku and Steven Pienaar.

And Everton were handed much-needed impetus eight minutes later when Shelvey, earlier booked for kicking the ball away, was given a second yellow when obstructing the marauding James McCarthy 30 yards from goal.

Jagielka bounced a header on to the roof of the net as the Blues finally began to build some momentum.

Williams did brilliantly to reach an inviting Pienaar cross before Lukaku could pounce, while the Belgian got in the way of a goalbound Baines shot.

And in the final seconds of injury time, a sliding Lukaku should have connected with a driven Eto'o cross with the goal at his mercy,

Frustrating.


Source: Echo