Afternoon all. So, after three teams booked their place in the quarter-finals of the
FA Cup yesterday, it's now the turn of
Everton and
Swansea City to battle it out for their name to be in today's draw. Neither side will want a replay, so it should be an entertaining tie.
Before we go any further, though, the team news from Goodison Park has just arrived with us. Let's begin with the hosts...
EVERTON XI: Robles; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; McCarthy, Barry; Mirallas, Pienaar, Barkley; Traore
EVERTON SUBS: Hibbert, McGeady, Deulofeu, Naismith, Osman, Howard, Stones
That is a strong starting lineup from
Roberto Martinez, who has given a full debut to Monaco loanee
Lacina Traore in the absence of injured striker Romelu Lukaku. Elsewhere, it's a near full strength selection from the Everton boss, with the only change of note coming between the posts as Joel Robles has been picked to keep goal ahead of Tim Howard.
And now for the Swansea team...
SWANSEA XI: Tremmel; Richards, Bartley, Amat, Taylor; Canas, De Guzman, Hernandez, Routledge, Lamah; Vazquez
SWANSEA SUBS: Vorm, Williams, Tiendalli, Britton, Dyer, Bony, Lita
While Martinez has named a strong side, his opposite number Garry Monk has opted to make a number of alterations. The likes of Ashley Williams, Wilfried Bony, Nathan Dyer, Wilfried Bony and Gerhard Tremmel have all dropped down to the bench. As a result, Kyle Bartley, Jazz Richards, Roland Lamah and Alvaro Vazquez have been given opportunities to impress their new manager.
He will try to play it down of course, but Martinez's presence cannot be ignored here. Having spent three years as a player with Swansea, he returned to manage them in 2007. Prior to his departure to Wigan Athletic two years later, he guided the Swans to the League One title. Consequently, he is still regarded by the Welsh club and the supporters at the Liberty Stadium.
Of course, the Swansea faithful were probably not his biggest fan back in December when he took his Everton side to the Liberty, where they returned to Merseyside with all three points thanks to a 2-1 win. In fact, it continued Everton's positive record against the Swans, who have never beaten the Toffees in 18 attempts, losing 13.
Swansea can take heart, though, from the fact that they have already ended a negative run of form in this season's FA Cup. They had never won at Old Trafford ahead of their third-round meeting with Manchester United, but Wilfried Bony's stoppage-time effort secured a 2-1 win and their spot in the next round.
Staying with Swansea, it's fair to say that former Everton midfielder Kevin Kilbane is not impressed with Monk's team selection. Here's what he had to say over on
BBC Sport: "With Wigan last season, Roberto Martinez saw the FA Cup as a priority, and his success in the cup probably helped him to get the Everton job in the first place.
"I'm also disappointed in Swansea's selection - Garry Monk wants that manager's job permanently but he's played a weakened side. Now, look at the team on paper and Everton should dominate this game and go on to win it relatively comfortably."
David Pleat is also extremely disappointed, again telling BBC Sport: "I'm very disappointed in that Swansea team. Everton are obviously taking this seriously and should now win the game. Swansea have Napoli in the Europa League in midweek, yes, but their priority should be not losing today and starting on a poor run."
To be honest, it's easy to understand both side's of the argument. Premier League survival and going deep in the Europa League are lucrative to Swansea, so you can see why Monk has rotated his team. Here, though, he could well have forfeited the chance of another Wembley appearance for the club.
Someone that has been full of praise for Monk, though, is Martinez, who installed the now Swansea boss as his captain during his time with the club.
"Garry was my first big decision as a manager in terms of shaping a squad. I built a new squad around him and I knew he was the perfect captain and it was important he kept that role in the future," said the Spaniard.
"He had that leadership, that DNA of being able to control a group, and being a captain in a club like Swansea where it is so involved with the community is an intense surrounding. It prepares you for that and Garry always responded very well."
As for Monk, he has just been discussing his team selection with ITV Sport: "The boys are focused on the game and are looking forward to it. The next game is the most important and this is the next game. We've got a couple of injuries, but the boys have been fantastic and everyone deserves their chance. It's about the squad and with all these games coming up it's important to keep players fresh."
PREDICTION: Right, with not long now until we get started, let's have a go at guessing the outcome of this tie. If football was played on paper, Everton would win this match. They have the stronger side, but as we've seen so often this season, upsets can happen. We expect the Toffees to perform here, though, so let's go for a 2-0 victory.
The players are now heading out on to the pitch. There's a good atmosphere inside Goodison Park today - the home crowd sound expectant. Only a couple of minutes until we start.
KICKOFF! Having observed a minute's silence for the late Sir Tom Finney, hosting Everton, attacking from right to left, get this FA Cup clash started.
SAVE! Vazquez has never scored for Swansea and he may never do after this chance goes begging! He times his run through the centre to collect a pass from Pablo Hernandez. Then he just has Robles to beat, but having rounded the Everton keeper, he opts against shooting and instead passes to Lamah, who loops an effort straight at Robles. What a waste from the Spanish striker.
GOAL! EVERTON 1-0 SWANSEA (TRAORE)
What a dream start for Everton's debutant Traore. Barkley swings in a free kick for Distin which he heads downwards. The ball drops back to the defender, who then shows great composure to pick out Traore six yards from goal. Rather than control the ball, the striker backheels it and despite the efforts of Richards on the line, it rolls into the net. Vazquez's failure to score looks even more costly now.
CHANCE! It's been a bright start from Barkley as he uses his strength to bustle beyond two Swansea players.
Leighton Baines provides an option wide on the left, but the young midfielder goes for goal himself, only to see his low strike drift wide of the target.
Kevin Mirallas has been in good form for Everton of late and he's just showed how dangerous he can be. Neil Taylor surged forward for Swansea, which left space for the Belgian to exploit. He weaved his way into the area, but just as he was about to shoot, Kyle Bartley stepped in to bravely block.
GOAL! EVERTON 1-1 SWANSEA (DE GUZMAN)
What a lovely equaliser that is from Swansea and it's all about the timing of De Guzman's run. Some neat play in the final third frees up Taylor, who sends a cross into the Everton box. De Guzman makes a late surge forward to meet the ball unchallenged. From there, he plants a header beyond a static Robles and into the net and the Swans are level.
All of a sudden, Everton's passing is lacking composure. That goal has rocked them somewhat and it's Swansea that have stepped up a level. One would imagine that it's not the end of the scoring, because both sides look a little vulnerable in defence.
POST! Is there a better left-hand side understanding than the one that Baines and Pienaar share? The South African frees Baines down the left, before the full-back drills a cross into the area for his partner in crime. He then flicks the ball over Tremmel with a neat effort, but it cannons back into play off the post. Traore is alert to the rebound, but his header lacks power and the Swansea keeper is able to hold the ball.
CHANCE! From one flank to another as Everton full-back Coleman gets down the right. His low cross into the area picks out Mirallas, who attempts to sweep a right-footed effort into the bottom corner. The ball is always curling away from the target, though, and it eventually drifts a couple of yards wide.
SAVES! Now Everton are starting to gain a foothold on this tie again. Twice Pienaar had efforts in quick succession, but Tremmel was alert to block both from close range.
SUBSTITUTION: It's an early injury-forced change for Swansea and it's Bartley that is limping off. He went down earlier with a hamstring complaint, but wanted to carry on. It appears that he has now made that injury worse, though, as he over-stretched in a challenge. He's been replaced by skipper Ashley Williams.
Having survived those flurry of opportunities, Swansea have started to impose themselves on proceedings. They are lacking a real presence up front right now, so perhaps it won't be long into the second half that we see the introduction of Bony from the bench.
SAVE! Baines and Mirallas stand over a central free kick 20 yards from goal and it's the latter of that duo that takes the responsibility. His effort has plenty of power, but it also goes straight at Tremmel, who gets both hands behind the ball to parry clear the danger.
CHANCE! Another opportunity for Everton as Barkley finds enough time and space on the edge of the area to pull the trigger. The strike has enough power to worry Tremmel, but he's not needed in the end as the ball whistles just beyond the upright.
There will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: EVERTON 1-1 SWANSEA
Referee Kevin Friend calls time on what has been an entertaining first half with the scores level at one goal apiece.
Martinez will probably be the unhappier of the two managers, having seen his side create numerous chances, but then lack composure when it has really mattered. What's more, unlike many matches this term, the Everton defence has looked a tad shaky, which Swansea are looking to exploit on the counter-attack.
As for Monk, his much-changed team has done him proud during the first 45 minutes. They've come under some significant pressure, but apart from the early goal, they've stood firm. If they were to introduce perhaps Bony and Dyer into the action during the second half, they would also pose more of a threat going forward.
STATS! The hosting Toffees have had a 56% share of possession, with half of their 10 shots on target. Meanwhile, Swansea have scored with their only effort on target, having seen two more miss the goal. There has been just the one corner in the game as well, which was earned by Swansea.
RESTART! As Swansea get the second half underway, they've made their second substitution of the match with Dyer replacing the quiet Wayne Routledge.
It's been a slow start to the second half at Goodison Park, with both sides looking a little laboured in possession.
SAVE! Barkley really isn't frightened to shoot, even if his previous efforts have not been successful. Again he drives forwards towards the edge of the Swansea area, before drilling a low shot at goal. Tremmel can only parry, but he reacts quickly to pounce on the ball at the second attempt.
As Swansea start to grow in confidence following a series of attacks, the home supporters are getting a little restless. They are starting to groan at any misplaced pass.
He may have scored earlier on, but it hasn't been the most impressive of debuts from Traore. Granted the service into him hasn't been the best, but his first touch leaves a lot to be desired. He seems to be the type of striker that needs crosses lofted into the area, rather than getting involved in the build up.
SUBSTITUTIONS: And that is indeed the end of Traore's afternoon as he is replaced by
Steven Naismith. There is also a second change for Everton, with the lively Barkley being replaced by Leon Osman.
GOAL! EVERTON 2-1 SWANSEA (NAISMITH)
Moments after Pienaar misses a guilt-edged chance to put Everton in front, he is bailed out by Naismith. However, without Swansea defender Taylor, this goal wouldn't have been scored. Without looking, the full-back attempted to pass the ball back to Tremmel. Naismith was alert, though, to cut it out, before slotting the ball underneath the visiting goalkeeper. That's a big, big error from Taylor, which could have cost his team a place in the quarter-finals.
CHANCE! What a chance for Mirallas to seal the outcome of this tie. Coleman is starting to have a big influence on this match as he again gets to the right byline. His cross picks out the unmarked Everton attacker, but he lashes wildly over the crossbar from 12 yards out. Moments later, Swansea make their last change as Leroy Lita replaces Lamah.
PENALTY TO EVERTON!
GOAL! EVERTON 3-1 SWANSEA (BAINES)
When Baines steps up to take a penalty, is the outcome ever in doubt?! He's just made it 12 from 12, having sent Tremmel the wrong way with a confident finish. Before that, Richards was the offender as he brought down Naismith with a sliding challenge after Swansea had given away possession on the edge of the own box. That should have sent Everton securely into the last eight.
Everton are now in such command here, you could actually seeing them scoring again before the final whistle. They are passing the ball around for fun as the Swansea players tire.
Some potentially bad news for Everton as Naismith is down and receiving treatment for a head injury. He's been down a couple of minutes now.
The Scot is now back on his feet and has returned to the action. He did take a hefty blow to the jaw, but it's not going to keep him from playing it seems.
BOOKINGS! The first two cautions of the clash and both go to Swansea. Lita sees yellow for a late challenge on McCarthy, who is then pushed while on the floor by Jose Canas for some reason! He's duly booked as well. The break in play also saw Everton make their final change, as Mirallas leaves the pitch to be replaced by Deulofeu.
With no more substitutions left, Naismith can't carry on. Perhaps he's got some concussion after that head injury. Everton will see out the remainder of the tie with 10 men, which they should be able to do so with little fuss.
There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this tie.
FULL TIME: EVERTON 3-1 SWANSEA
There goes the final whistle and in the end it was a relatively routine victory for Everton, who are now in the last eight of the FA Cup.
As for Swansea, their attention will now turn to a Europa League clash with Rafael Benitez's Napoli on Thursday night. You'd expect that Bony and Leon Britton will be reinstated to the starting lineup by Monk for that one.
That is all we have time for from Goodison Park. Thanks for joining us and until next time, goodbye.