A match that began with a gentle ebb and flow ended with both sides swinging at each other like two drunks slugging it out in an alley. This was an enthralling stalemate both managers felt they could have won, but each seemed content with a point earned largely through excellent performances from defenders prepared time and again to throw their bodies on the line. For Roberto Martínez, it was satisfying, considering that in Brendan Galloway, John Stones and Tyias Browning he had three defenders aged 21 or under in an all-English back four.
“The first half was very level, I thought we cancelled each other out,” said Martínez, who after half an hour could be seen on the edge of his technical area a few yards along from his opposite number, Garry Monk, as the pair quietly surveyed the action unfolding before them. A dapper duo, both looked a picture of louche serenity as, without comment or gesticulation, they looked on like a pair of racehorse trainers admiring thoroughbreds being put through their paces on an afternoon gallop. Each had every right to feel pleased with what they saw.
Everton probably should have edged it, failing to capitalise on a period of almost total dominance 15 minutes after the interval when Jonjo Shelvey and Jack Cork appeared to lose their foothold in a midfield dominated by Ross Barkley. He was not Swansea’s only tormentor, with Gareth Barry teeing up Romelu Lukaku only for the Belgian to balloon a close-range effort over the bar before having a more finessed effort blunder-bussed off the line by Ashley Williams. Everton’s Galloway also went close, performing a nimble soft-shoe shuffle to turn his man and drill wide. Later, he too would blast over.
In a more evenly matched first half, James McCarthy’s cross from the right after nine minutes was just a little too high for Arouna Koné, while Stones had Everton hearts in mouths as he misjudged the flight of a Kyle Naughton cross that allowed Bafétimbi Gomis to unleash an acrobatic scissor kick straight at Tim Howard. Moments later, the French striker, on a fruitless search for his fifth goal in six matches, sent a diagonal drive fizzing just past the upright.
Undroppable following his hat-trick against Chelsea last weekend, Steven Naismith was put through on goal after neat link-up play by Koné and Lukaku, only to be denied by a splendid tackle by Neil Taylor. A constant menace, the Scot was later foiled by Lukasz Fabianski after firing through a thicket of legs from outside the area, after Swansea had failed to clear a free-kick. As the second half progressed, Swansea continued to play their way back into contention but were unable to break the deadlock. On for Wayne Routledge, Jefferson Montero forced a fine close-range save from Howard with a viciously whipped effort after twisting Browning’s blood on the edge of the penalty area.
Gylfi Sigurdsson also went close, hitting the side-netting with a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area before Gerard Deulofeu, on for Koné, squared tantalisingly across the edge of the Swansea six-yard box only for the ball to evade Naismith. Swansea struck again: Gomis shooting straight at Howard from distance only for Everton to retaliate rat-a-tat style with Galloway shooting over and Lukaku forcing another lunge from Taylor either side of Jack Cork shipping a surface-to-air screamer in the crown jewels from a visibly grinning McCarthy.
As the sides continued to trade blows, the last word went to Kevin Mirallas, whose challenge on his fellow substitute Modou Barrow resulted in a straight red card less than five minutes after taking to the field.
“It was his first challenge and I felt it required a little common sense,” said Martínez, who appeared to think it was the referee, Stuart Attwell, who was over-zealous, rather than the player who leapt in on a rival’s shin with his studs showing in all their glory.
