Planet Swans ArchivesAfter the nerve tingling win over Watford on Monday night it was another backs to the wall win for the Swans today as we were forced to defend for most of the second half, something that we did with some great passion and fight and more than a great deal of luck, none moreso then when Seamus Coleman blasted over from two yards out with the last kick of the game.
A first half penalty from Gylfi Sigurdsson and a great finish from Andre Ayew had given us a first half advantage in the first game of the Francesco Guidolin era with the goals sandwiched either side of what was eventually credited to be a Jack Cork own goal.
Naming the same side that started against Watford with the exception of Rangel in for Naughton, Guidolin’s side looked like they meant business and they capitalised on all hesitations in the Everton defence of which there were plenty in the first half.
The penalty came when Ayew picked up on a poor John Stones back pass and got to the ball a fraction of a second before the Everton keeper which meant that the American bought him down and the referee pointed to the spot.
Gylfi sent Howard the wrong way from the penalty spot to give the Swans the lead that calmed some of the nerves. The calm though didn’t last long as Barry got the faintest of touches to a corner but it was a deflection off Cork that bought the home side level from that move.
Ayew though had a bigger part to play when he picked up Neil Taylor’s pass to fire past Howard to restore the Swans lead with the game becoming very end to end at this point.
End to end it wasn’t in the second half although Routledge missed a great chance to grab a third for the Swans but in the main it was pressure from the home side although most of it was more than matched by some great defending led from the front again by Ashley Williams.
As the final whistle blew just a second after Coleman blasted over the celebrations on the Swans bench started and now we can really look to some fixtures that lie ahead as our chance to banish any relegation fears.
A great day, great battle and a great result. Just what was needed
<#eveswa>
