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Scintillating Second-Half Blues

Swansea City 0 - 2 Everton

Match Summary

David Moyes strangely chose to make very few team changes despite an impending FA Cup Quarterfinal, and a repeat of the derby circumstances when he fatefully rested more than half of his team... and lost shamefully to a horrible Gerrard hat-trick.

Fellaini and Heitinga were moved onto the bench, with Gibson surprisingly slotted straight back into a re-jigged midfield featuring Moyes's old favourites, Neville, Osman and Cahill. Drenthe did not travel. Jelavić in the lone striker role once again.

Danny Graham got the first decent chance, getting behind Hibbert but his low effort was tame as both sides sounded each other out rather tentatively, not improved by a dreadful first-time cross from Hibbert.

Baines swung in a decent free-kick that Jelavic got to but could only head wide. Another excellent free-kick opportunity swung in by Baines fell to Gibson but his strike was more rugby than soccer. Baines then drove one in hard, deflected for a corner, but Everton were not really coming all that close despite having plenty of possession.

Swansea did make one good attack near the break, that needed firm intervention by Jagielka, as Allen went in far too high on Neville and got himself booked.

Lively forward moves from both sides hopefully set the pace for the second half, but defenses were still out-pointing attacks as neither side seemed capable of taking the lead. Jelavic went on a great little run from wide left, only to astoundingly pass the ball back poorly behind Osman rather than fire in a shot as Everton started to build up some head of steam, a fantastic strike from Gibson forcing a spectacular save.

Stirred by Everton's initiative, Swansea constructed their own good move, Routledge nodding over with Howard stranding himself. Pienaar, released down the left then tried a grass-cutter of his own but curled it agonizingly wide, while at the other end, Sinclair powered over as Fellaini readied himself to replace Cahill.

Baines drew a rather soft foul to earn a dangerous free-kick that he then curled up and over the wall, superbly away from Vorm and right into the top corner for a fantastic strike!!

With their tails up and the Blues contingent singing happily, Pienaar was released down the left by a superb ball from Gibson, but his strike was marginally wide of the far post, with Brendan Rogers stung into making a triple change to turn things around in the final 20 mins, as Gibson got a soft card for stepping in on Sinclair.

With Swansea stretched, Pienaar and Jelavic strode forward in style, a great move, a perfect feed to Jelavic, who astoundingly stroked his gifted set-up past the post! Horrendous miss!!!

Baines got forward well and played another excellent cutback to Jelavic but he was under too much pressure. Then it was Fellaini's turn with some excellent work on the byline, following a Hibbert throw-in and exchange pass on the ground to beat two men in the Swansea area and set up Jelavić just 5 yards out and he couldn't miss this time! Third go's a charm!!! Job done, and a few minutes later, Moyes swapped the Croatian out for El Traca.

Pienaar again broke forward in space, waited an age rather than shooting, and then laid it on a plate for Stracqualursi but the big lumox tamely passed it to the keeper!!! Pienaar set him up again a few minutes later with another excellent move into the Swansea area but it was behind Stracq and he tried to be too acrobatic with it. Still should have scored.

All the decent second-half stuff seemed to come after Everton decided they could play the ball on the ground, rather than lumping in a succession of useless aimless crosses that had dominated the first half stalemate.

3 points from a massive mid-table six-pointer gives Everton those magic 40 points Moyes has been focused on all season, and moves them up to 9th, above Swansea City. Not a bad day's work! And hopefully a great confidence booster for Tuesday big game...

Everton (4-5-1): Howard; Hibbert, Distin, Jagielka, Baines; Osman, Gibson (85' Heitinga), Cahill (58' Fellaini), Neville, Pienaar; Jelavić (81' Stracqualursi).
Subs: Mucha, McFadden, Gueye, Anichebe.

Quotes or other material sourced from ToffeeWeb Match Report Page

• Match Report
• Post-match discussion

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