My sweet Llor
CLEMENT’S JOY AS STRIKER’S WINNER TAKES SWANS OUT OF THE DROP ZONE
THE Roman poet Horace summed it up best when, in one of his Latin odes, he wrote “Carpe Diem”. It translates as “Seize the day”. Or, in football, take your chance.
One such glorious opportunity presented itself to Paul Clement’s side at the Liberty Stadium yesterday. And they refused to let it pass. They grabbed hold of it, ragging sorry Everton all over the place, en route to three highly valuable points.
Yes, they owe a debt to Sunderland, whose efforts at the KCOM Stadium ensured the Swans went into this lateafternoon kick-off with a decided spring in their step.
The split in the Saturday starting times had worked in their favour.
But Clement’s men still had to cover the hard yards and convert this home fixture into victory.
They were helped, of course, because Everton are in no danger of dropping lower than seventh.
And they are just as unlikely to move any higher, either.
This led to an insipid performance in the opening hour, which left Ronald Koeman looking about as happy as a child who had his all birthday presents confiscated for bad behaviour.
But you can only beat that which is set before you.
And Swansea deservedly saw this out because, in that famous cliché, they “wanted it more”.
When black-shirted Toffees players needed closing down, they were harried.
When bodies needed to be put on the line, they were.
When the ball needed booting clear... well, you get the drift.
It was precisely 4.48pm, when news of Jermain Defoe’s goal at Hull City was relayed over the television screens dotted around the Liberty Stadium.
And the afternoon, accordingly, saw an increase in excitement levels. Swans supporters had expected to be going into this fixture with a five-point deficit to make up.
As it was, victory would drag them out of the bottom three.
There was a huge psychologicial boost, greeted by loud cheers underneath the stands, when the final result in east Yorkshire was confirmed.
But Everton needed a performance.
After defeat to Chelsea and a forgettable encounter at the London Stadium, Koeman’s players were on trial, too.
It is in matches such as these – when the pressure is off – that top managers judge whether those they send out have a warrior’s mentality.
Or if they are content with their lot.
After watching the first 45 minutes, it was easy to see which category Everton had fallen into.
They were disjointed, disinterested and dismal.
It was difficult to even see which system Koeman had plumped for.
The important first goal arrived just before the half-hour.
Jordan Ayew twisted and turned and just about lifted a cross to the far post.
Phil Jagielka’s starting position was hopeless.
He got under the ball and was unable to get himself any lift.
Fernando Llorente had the run on his opponent and found the net with a header from inside the six-yard box.
The 29th-minute goal was his 13th of an increasingly impressive campaign.
Koeman had little option, but to freshen up at the break. He called for Ross Barkley. And the England midfielder did add a spark.
It just didn’t carry to the rest of his team-mates.
At the other end, Mason Holgate produced a brilliant last-ditch block to stop Alfie Mawson from making it two.
After the interval, Toffees keeper Maarten Stekelenburg produced two stops that his team-mates did not deserve, saving first from Llorente’s header.
His second effort was even better, thrusting out a leg to block substitute Leroy Fer’s effort.
Ayew also sent a shot crashing into the outside of the upright.
With just a one-goal advantage, Swansea were always in danger of falling to a lapse in concentration.
With five minutes left, Barkley’s free-kick from the left saw the home defence forget their duties for once, Kevin Mirallas had the chance to flick a header beyond Lukasz Fabianski, but it went wide of the upright.
After that, even Llorente was defending in the right-back slot and tackling like a demon. Yes, Swansea valued these points more than Everton.
Afterwards, Clement (left) said: “It is one of my proudest moments today. What a fantastic, gritty performance. It was so important we got that result after what happened at Hull.
“It gave us a lift before the game, knowing that had gone in our favour. We knew if we did something special we could get out of the relegation zone.
And defender Mawson said: “When it comes to squeaky-bum time, it takes men to stand up – and we did that.”