da realbet： With Everton’s recent run of form easing their surprising fears of relegation – a win today would’ve been four on the spin – and Swansea City’s season seemingly over as Garry Monk’s side look set to coast through in eighth place with an impressive record high number of Premier League points for the Welsh side, today’s clash wasn’t really whetting the appetite of too many neutrals.
da leao： The game at the Liberty Stadium wasn’t too drab of an affair, really, with goals from Aaron Lennon and Jonjo Shelvey meaning the game ended with each team taking a point apiece.
Lennon, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, still holds onto the remarkable record of having never lost when he has scored – it’s almost at 30 games, now – and the winger did well to control and stab home as half-time approached.
Swansea City improved in the second-half, and although you could argue Seamus Coleman was fouled in the build-up by Marvin Emnes, there’s no denying it was a blatant handball and Shelvey comfortably tucked home sending Tim Howard the wrong way.
So, what have we learnt from today’s clash?
Everton and Swansea haven’t started their summer holidays early
There were no doubt a lot of grumbles around the neutrals today when they realised it was Swansea City versus Everton for the live early game.
Two teams with seemingly nothing to play for – although Swansea are chasing their highest Premier League points total under Garry Monk – we all expected 90 minutes of going through the motions. However, although it was certainly far from a classic, the two sides couldn’t be criticised for already being on their summer holidays.
Great to have Steven Pienaar back
Pienaar was nothing short of a delight during his first spell with the Toffees, however, following his return after a brief and unsuccessful spell at Tottenham Hotspur, the South African hasn’t quite got things ticking like he used to at Goodison Park – obviously that hasn’t been helped by injuries – but, after returning from four months out today, the midfielder seemed to be back to his best and Everton will hope it continues.
Jonjo Shelvey slowly but surely getting there
Once tipped to be the replacement to Steven Gerrard at Liverpool (but then again, I’m sure Jay Spearing was, too) Jonjo Shelvey needed the move to Swansea City and, at times, the midfielder has shown why he did at one point earn an England cap.
It wasn’t a vintage performance by any stretch of the imagination, however, the former Reds midfielder showed great composure in tucking home a neat penalty in a high pressured situation – in fact, it was very Steven Gerrard-esque…