[monks data]

Attendance: 37,580

Premier League

Dec 18, 2017 at 8pm UK

Everton
3-1
Swansea Swansea City

Calvert-Lewin (45'), Sigurdsson (64'), Rooney (73' pen.)

FT(HT: 1-1)

Fer (35')

Everton boss Sam Allardyce happy with second-half revival

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 18 December 2017

Everton manager Sam Allardyce describes his side's first-half display against Swansea City as "pretty mediocre", but was happy with the second-half showing.

Sam Allardyce has admitted that he was "delighted" with the second-half showing of his Everton players to overcome Swansea City 3-1 at Goodison Park.

A lacklustre opening 45 minutes from the Toffees saw them go into the break all square at 1-1 after Dominic Calvert-Lewin snatched a goal late on, converting from a saved Wayne Rooney penalty.

Despite a spirited performance from bottom side Swansea, Everton dug deep in the second half and bagged a couple more goals through Gylfi Sigurdsson and Rooney, the latter this time converting from the penalty spot.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Allardyce said: "With a pretty mediocre first-half performance, I'm delighted with the turnaround and the lift of performance in the second half. We really needed it.

"I was really pleased with the fans' patience in the first half. We switched off from a corner, which is disappointing. Goals change games. The game turned in our favour. Our first goal knocked Swansea back and gave us encouragement.

"We got Tom Davies on to get further forward than Morgan [Schneiderlin], who was sitting back, and then Gylfi Sigurdsson comes out with a wonder goal. Players like that can change games in your favour. That knocked Swansea down and we won comfortably in the end"

Everton move up to ninth place in the Premier League table thanks to their fourth home win in succession.