Twenty minutes playing with ten men followed a defensive display for seventy minutes where we conceded plenty of possession but never really looked like conceding a goal to a home side that became increasingly frustrated – as borne out by the comments of their manager after the game.
It was a fifth clean sheet for the Swans in ten Premier League games so far this season and shows just how much stronger we have become at the back with the team looking increasingly difficult to beat as they consolidated their position in the Top 6 of the division.
With Arsenal and Man City the next two opponents for the Swans it was probably quite vital that we got something out of yesterday’s game and despite the pressure put on us by the home side I cannot recall any particular moment in the game where I felt as if it would look like we would crack at any point.
Led by captain Ashley Williams we have become stronger and stronger in games like this and the tactical set up by Monk yesterday was absolutely spot on as we contained an Everton side who like to pass the ball around and were prevented from scoring in the league for the first time this season.
รขโฌลWe were brilliant defensively,รขโฌย said Monk. รขโฌลI said to the boys afterwards that they probably wonรขโฌโขt earn a harder point, under the circumstances. They should be very proud of themselves today.
รขโฌลWeรขโฌโขve always played good football, but I felt we needed to do more on our defensive shape and the way we defended as a team this season.
รขโฌลThere will be periods this season that we wonรขโฌโขt be able to play our best free flowing football.
รขโฌลIn a few games this campaign, had we not put in the work, we might have lost those games.
รขโฌลToday showed the hard work theyรขโฌโขve been putting in and we deserved the point.รขโฌย
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