Everton manager Roberto Martinez "surprised" by negative Swansea City approach after Blues held to goalless drawThe Everton manager said he expected to see the two teams fighting to get on the ball
Roberto Martinez admitted he was surprised by Swansea City’s approach during their goalless draw at Goodison Park on Saturday.But the Everton manager insists his side will never complain if sides come to Merseyside simply to defend.
Martinez was left frustrated by his team’s inability to break down a stubborn Swansea outfit, despite controlling the majority of the game, and playing the last 19 minutes of the game with a man advantage following the dismissal of Jonjo Shelvey.
The visitors failed to have a shot on target or force a corner. And with Everton boasting two-thirds of the possession without ever really looking like creating too much, it made for a rather sterile spectacle.
“It is like when you go to the cinema expecting to see an outstanding film, and the hopes are so high that you end up disappointed,” Martinez said.
“I expected two teams fighting to get on the ball. Swansea were very well organised, they were quite deep and tried to hit us on the counter.
“They had a couple of actions, as you would expect, but they had no shots on target and no corners, which is quite strange. And I think the sending off has, in the last 10 or 15 minutes, given them a stronger role in trying to just see the game through.
“It was a frustrating performance, with a slow and pedestrian tempo. A strange game, really.”
Everton have now won just one home league game since April, leading to suggestions that more teams who visit Goodison may follow Swansea’s lead, by packing their midfield and looking to hit the Blues on the counter attack.
“I take that as a compliment, and I think we have adapted to that over the past months,” Martinez said.
“We enjoy when teams come and they are defensive minded, we never moan about that.
“In football you have to find a way. I was surprised that Swansea did that, but they are allowed to do that. You choose how you want to play.
“I think we got a little bit frustrated with ourselves. We usually move the ball a lot quicker, and we are a lot more penetrating in the final third.
“But you get days like that, and we need to make sure we don’t get frustrated with ourselves in future.”
Martinez confirmed defender Antolin Alcaraz is facing “a long spell” on the sidelines, after injuring his shoulder in a challenge with Wilfried Bony in the first half.
It could lead to a recall for Sylvain Distin, who has not featured in the league since September, and was not even among the substitutes on Saturday.
“Sylvain played against Lille and I was really happy with his performance,” Martinez said.
“But Sylvain is not someone who I would use on the bench, at 36.
“There are certain positions that you need on the bench to make an impact. Other positions, it is more to make up the numbers, and I don’t think that for Sylvain at his age, to make him get changed and get ready if he is not starting the game is fair.
“He’s a very important player for us, and that has never changed.”
Source: Neil Jones / Echo
