Francesco Guidolin's tenure as the new head coach of Swansea City got off to a winning start this afternoon at the expense of Everton, who slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of their Welsh visitors.
The travelling Swans had never previously beaten their Merseyside hosts in 21 league outings, but first-half goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Andre Ayew broke that duck, moving them four points above the relegation zone in the process.
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An insipid opening period was momentarily brought to life in the fourth minute when Everton midfielder Muhamed Besic inherited possession on the halfway line and strode forward unopposed. The Bosnian eventually chanced his luck 20 yards from goal, only to see his low effort cannon to safety off the base of the post.
It was to be Besic's only contribution of note before he limped off with a hamstring problem soon after and things then got even worse for the home side in the 17th minute.
John Stones's casual style in possession has earned the Everton centre-back some criticism of late and that will only intensify as it was his error that gifted Swansea the lead. His delayed back-pass for Tim Howard was under-hit, allowing Ayew to nip in and go down under a challenge from the Everton goalkeeper. The responsibility from 12 yards went to Sigurdsson, who tucked away his third penalty of the campaign.
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Everton's response to having fallen behind was a relatively muted one, yet they were still able to draw themselves level with 26 minutes on the clock. Gareth Barry darted towards the near post to meet Gerard Deulofeu's corner and while his flick may have been heading wide, it was diverted into the net by Swansea midfielder Jack Cork.
Rather than build upon any momentum that goal may have provided, the Toffees instead fell behind for a second time seven minutes later. Stones was again involved as Ayew's effort looped up off the 21-year-old and out of Howard's reach for the Swansea attacker's eighth goal since his summer arrival from Marseille.
Everton left the field at the break to a chorus of jeers from the home supporters and that displeasure was almost heightened three minutes after the restart when Swansea winger Wayne Routledge was sent scampering through. On this occasion, though, Howard stood firm to block the shot.
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That was followed by a series of sustained attacks by Roberto Martinez's team, but for all of their possession, they found it almost impossible to call Lukasz Fabianski in the away goal into any telling action.
As the encounter wore on their most likely source of a goal was Spanish winger Deulofeu, who sent over a string of dangerous crosses from the right flank. Yet, much to his frustration, none of his teammates were able to make significant contact.
There were opportunities for Romelu Lukaku and substitute Seamus Coleman to equalise in the closing stages, but the former saw his downward header held by Fabianski, while the latter shot wide and then fired over from just one yard out as Everton were condemned to a fifth home defeat.
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