English Premiership
Everton cruise past Swansea
2012-09-22 16:10
Swansea - Everton swept into second place in the English Premier League with an impressive 3-0 victory over 10-man Swansea on Saturday.
David Moyes's side surged into a two-goal lead at the Liberty Stadium thanks to first half strikes from Victor Anichebe and Kevin Mirallas.
Swansea's hopes of avoiding a second successive defeat were in tatters when substitute Nathan Dyer, who had only been on the pitch for 12 minutes, was sent off in the second half.
Marouane Fellaini put the result beyond doubt with a late goal and Everton's third win of the league campaign moved the Toffees level on points with leaders Chelsea, although they are likely to surrender that lofty position by Sunday evening.
Swansea had handed a full debut to Spanish midfielder Pablo Hernandez, the club's record signing from Valencia, while Anichebe replaced injured Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic for Everton.
After the disappointment of squandering the lead in Monday's draw against Newcastle, Everton looked determined to make amends in south Wales and the visitors opened the scoring in controversial fashion in the 21st minute.
Fellaini beat Alan Tate to a high ball and the Belgian midfielder's flick, which appeared to come off his elbow, reached Anichebe, who fired home to claim his second goal of the week.
Everton doubled their lead in the 43rd minute when Mirallas ended his wait for a first Premier League goal since his 6 million move from Olympiakos on transfer deadline day last month.
Steven Pienaar unhinged the Swansea defence with a burst down the right flank and his low cross found Mirallas, whose initial shot was touched on to the bar by Michel Vorm before the Belgian striker reacted quickest to nod the rebound over the line.
Michael Laudrup's side were being carved open time and again and Mirallas's second half shot was pushed onto the bar by Vorm, who then scrambed to block Anichebe's effort from the rebound.
There was no way back for Swansea after Dyer's foolish 57th minute dismissal.
The winger, who replaced Hernandez at half-time, had already been booked for dissent when he launched into a rash challenge on Leighton Baines, giving referee Anthony Taylor no choice but to show a second yellow card.
Everton kept pressing for more goals and Fellaini's effort was cleared off the line by Leon Britton.
But Fellaini sealed the points in the 82nd minute as his header from Baines' free-kick took a deflection off Ashley Williams and flashed past Vorm.