Everton substitute Kevin Mirallas sent off in stalemate at Swansea

A match that began with a gentle ebb and flow ended with both sides swinging at each other like two drunks slugging it out in an alley. This was an enthralling stalemate both managers felt they could have won, but each seemed content with a point earned largely through excellent performances from defenders prepared time and again to throw their bodies on the line. For Roberto Martínez, it was satisfying, considering that in Brendan Galloway, John Stones and Tyias Browning he had three defenders aged 21 or under in an all-English back four.

“The first half was very level, I thought we cancelled each other out,” said Martínez, who after half an hour could be seen on the edge of his technical area a few yards along from his opposite number Garry Monk, as the pair quietly surveyed the action unfolding before them. A dapper duo, both looked a picture of louche serenity as, without comment or gesticulation, they looked on like a pair of racehorse trainers admiring thoroughbreds being put through their paces on an afternoon gallop. Each had every right to feel pleased with what they saw.

Everton probably should have edged it, failing to capitalise on a period of almost total dominance 15 minutes after the interval when Jonjo Shelvey and Jack Cork appeared to lose their foothold in a midfield dominated by Ross Barkley. He was not Swansea’s only tormentor, with Gareth Barry teeing up Romelu Lukaku only for the Belgian to balloon a close range effort over the bar before having a more finessed effort blunder-bussed off the line by Ashley Williams. Everton’s Galloway also went close, performing a nimble soft-shoe shuffle to turn his man and drill wide. Later, he too would blast over.

In a more evenly matched first half, James McCarthy’s cross from the right after nine minutes was just a little too high for Arouna Koné, while Stones had Everton hearts in mouths as he misjudged the flight of a Kyle Naughton cross that allowed Bafétimbi Gomis to unleash an acrobatic scissor kick straight at Tim Howard. Moments later, the French striker, on a fruitless search for his fifth goal in six matches, sent a diagonal drive fizzing just past the upright.

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