Every point feels precious in the scrap for survival, yet Swansea City will lament the fact that they departed with one, not three, from a game they badly needed to win to allow them to breathe more easily in the relegation battle. A superbly-taken goal from Jordan Ayew at least enabled Swansea to salvage something after Kyle Naughton had put through his own net just before-half time, but this felt like a missed opportunity for Carlos Carvalhal and his players.
The Welsh club edged another point clear of the drop zone but slipped two places in the table on an afternoon when they paid a high price for their profligacy in front of goal. Everton, in contrast, remained ninth and it was another of those days when their supporters made it clear that they are far from enamoured with Sam Allardyce and his tactics. The Everton manager’s decision to bring on Ramiro Funes Mori for Yannick Bolasie went down particularly badly with the travelling fans, especially after they had just hit the woodwork and the game was there to be won.
Swansea had started extremely brightly, opening Everton up with their slick passing and creating several excellent chances inside the first 30 minutes, yet their failure to take any of those opportunities proved costly as the visitors pilfered the lead shortly before the interval and totally against the run of play.
Lukasz Fabianski produced two fine saves to deny Bolasie and then Idrissa Gueye from close-range, but the ball rebounded off Naughton and over the line. Swansea thought they had got away with it but Lee Mason, the referee, received a notification on his wrist via the goal-line technology system and Carvalhal’s team found themselves behind in a game where they should have led.
Everton had twice cleared balls off the line in the space of 60 seconds earlier in the first half. Leighton Baines seemed to know little about it when Jordan Ayew’s shot deflected off his heel and behind after Tom Carroll had broken away on the right following a Swansea counter-attack. From the corner that followed Cenk Tosun nodded Federico Fernández’s header off the line.
Everton seemed unable to stem the flow of white shirts and there was another reprieve for Allardyce’s team in the 26th minute. Jordan Ayew’s lovely first-time pass released Andre Ayew, his brother, through on goal but the forward’s shot was tame and straight at Jordan Pickford, who was able to easily save.
Swansea had another couple of openings early in the second half. Carroll’s diving header was saved by Pickford and five minutes later the Everton goalkeeper clawed Andre Ayew’s attempt over the bar. Everton, however, were starting to see a bit more of the ball and Gueye, totally unmarked, wastefully headed a cross from Theo Walcott wide of the far post.
With the clock ticking away, Carvalhal knew that he had to roll the dice. Tammy Abraham replaced Ki sung-Yueng as Swansea desperately pressed for an equaliser. Tosun, remarkably, cleared another header off the line, this time from Alfie Mawson, and Swansea must have wondered what they needed to do to score. The answer came via a slice of good fortune. Carroll’s mis-hit volley landed at the feet of Jordan Ayew, who took a touch before drilling an unerring shot across Pickford and into the far corner.
Premier League
Manchester City have won their fifth English league title after Manchester United lost at home to West Brom. Liverpool (70) and Tottenham (67) look set to join United in the top four with Chelsea seven points behind in fifth. Arsenal are just two points above Burnley in sixth, but could still reach the Champions League if they win the Europa League. Burnley look bound for Europe, unless Southampton win the FA Cup.
West Brom (24pts) are still nine points from safety despite their shock win at Old Trafford while Stoke (27pts) and Southampton (28) are losing touch with Swansea (33), Crystal Palace (34), West Ham (34), Huddersfield (35) and Brighton (35) in the fight to avoid relegation.
Championship
Wolves (pictured) have been promoted to the Premier League after Brentford's late equaliser against Fulham (82pts), who are now third behind Cardiff (83) in the race for automatic promotion, with Aston Villa (79) in fourth. There is a fierce battle for the other two play-off places with just four points between Middlesbrough, Millwall, Derby, Preston, Sheffield United, Bristol City and Brentford.
Burton beat Derby to avoid relegation and climb above Sunderland, who are six points from safety with three games to play. Barnsley (38pts) are still battling and have a game in hand on Bolton (40) and Reading (43),with Birmingham (40) still in trouble.
League One
Wigan and Blackburn have the edge in a three-horse race for automatic promotion; both sides have a five-point cushion on Shrewsbury (82pts), and leaders Wigan have a game in hand. Rotherham appear set for the top six with Scunthorpe, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Charlton and Peterborough battling for the other two play-off spots.
Bury (pictured) have been relegated to League Two after defeat to Northampton, who boosted their own survival hopes. MK Dons and Rochdale join the Cobblers in the bottom four, but Oldham, Walsall, Wimbledon and Oxford are all in danger.
League Two
Accrington missed the chance to seal promotion against Exeter on Saturday, but Stanley and Luton (83pts) look certain to climb into League One. Wycombe (77pts) are in third, with Notts County (73) and Exeter (73) playing catch-up. Coventry (68) and Mansfield (67) occupy the other play-off places but Lincoln (67) have games in hand.
Chesterfield and Barnet are in the bottom two but have hopes of catching the four teams above them – Forest Green, Grimsby, Morecambe and Port Vale. Macclesfield are 10 points clear in the National League, with one other team set to come up via the play-offs.
With the game now stretched, Everton came desperately close to regaining the lead 15 minutes from time. Tosun crossed from the right and Seamus Coleman rattled the crossbar when it appeared easier to score. Allardyce’s response was to replace Bolasie with Funes Mori – much to the annoyance of their supporters – presumably to try to shut up shop, yet Swansea could and should have scored again. Jordan Ayew’s astute knockdown from Carroll’s free-kick implored Abraham to score but the substitute screwed his shot over the bar from no more than eight yards.
