Sam Allardyce predicts top-half finish for Everton after Sigurdsson beauty sinks Swansea
With 13 points from a possible 15, Everton rise to ninth – a heady spot after being in the relegation places on October 23
Gylfi Sigurdsson’s stunning goal against his former club maintained Everton’s unbeaten record under Sam Allardyce with a 3-1 win on Monday that left Swansea rooted to the foot of the Premier League.
The 28-year-old Icelandic international left Swansea for a record £45 million (US$60 million) in the close season and his 30-yard effort in the second half illustrated why Everton wanted him so badly.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with his seventh goal in all competitions, had brought Everton level after Leroy Fer had given the visitors the lead with his first goal in 38 matches.
Wayne Rooney wrapped up the points with a penalty – he had an earlier one saved before Calvert-Lewin knocked in the rebound – for his 10th goal of the season.
“In games you need something special and Gylfi provided that,” Allardyce told Sky Sports. “From there it was nice and comfortable.
“It is a great three points considering how poorly we played in the first half.
“Top half, I think,” Allardyce said, when asked what his aims were for the rest of the season. “Let’s not get too carried away. Delivering 13 points from a possible 15 is an outstanding feat from where we came from.”
“I’m a confident person and believe in myself,” Rooney told Sky Sports.
“If you look at the pens I have missed you will see I put a bit of top spin on the ball so someone could follow up! I’m not giving them up.”
“I was never going to give that penalty up,” Rooney said. “Frustrating missing the first one, so I put my foot through it.
“I thought tonight we were sloppy at times,” he said, “ … but we showed great character to come from a goal down.
“Four weeks ago, we would have lost that game.”
“The mood in the dressing room is very flat,” Swansea manager Paul Clement told the BBC.
“We’re bottom of the table on 12 points. We’ve got to focus on getting to 15 points at the halfway mark.”