Michael Steele/Getty ImagesSwansea have yet to crack the code of beating Marouane Fellani and Everton.

Michael Laudrup's Swans have broken new ground for the club, not just reaching their first league cup semifinal, but teetering on the edge of progressing to the final itself after a composed defensive stand and unlikely 2-0 victory against Chelsea. Before the second leg , there will be the replay of the third round FA Cup fixture against Arsenal after the Swans salvaged a thrilling last minute draw at the Emirates. And before that, there is a chance for Swansea to set another club precedent; beating Everton.

- Betis confirm Canas Swansea switch
- Del Bosque set to check on Michu

The Swans have never beaten Everton in league play. In fact, Everton are one of only two sides not to have dropped points against the Swans since the Welsh club entered the Premier League (Norwich are the other), and it's been nearly 30 years since the Swans even took a point against the Toffees. Not helping the situation has been the underrated tactical nous of David Moyes.

The teams have met three times in the last 18 months, and each time the story of the game has been the same; how Moyes neutralised the Swansea game plan and marshalled his side to a comfortable victory. Swansea's strategy is not a big secret, yet somehow Moyes has been better able to counter it than any other Premier League manager. Part of Moyes' success lies in how the composition of his squad is uniquely suited to battle the Swans.

The unignorable presence of Marouane Fellaini is an obvious factor. The Swans' collective lack of height, although addressed somewhat over the summer with the additions of Ki Sung-Yueng, Michu and Chico Flores, still remains a genetic deficiency. Beyond the individually obvious, Everton's strength on their left flank -- specifically the attacking interplay between fullback du jour Leighton Baines and winger Steven Pienaar -- makes for an uncomfortable superimposition over the Swans' own attacking tandem on that side of the pitch.

Recent history had seen a formidable partnership created between right back Angel Rangel and winger Nathan Dyer, akin to the Baines-Pienaar axis. However, under Laudrup, the Swans have shown numerous other combinations of players form the same partnership; Rangel and Pablo Hernandez, Dwight Tiendalli and Nathan Dyer, Tiendalli and Rangel. There will be holes in the pocket behind the fullback for both sides to exploit, and as usual, the side which does that best will have an edge.

Everton should also press the Swans harder and more effectively than any other opponent has done; this has been one of Moyes' most productive tactics. Other sides, typically those who favour physicality over technique, have also caused Swansea some problems by exerting heavy pressure on the ball carrier. However, whereas such sides do not possess the skill to exploit the turnovers they create, Everton certainly do.

The key for Swansea therefore is to play with pace, pass quickly and above all, to keep their legs moving; without sufficient off-the-ball movement to present passing options, Everton will be able to press and force mistakes. With such a demanding schedule of late, the Swans players might find themselves a little slow off the mark due to fatigue. If this is the case, I wouldn't be surprised to see an Everton victory.

That said, Laudrup has taught his side the art of parking the bus; first demonstrated in the close 1-0 defeat to Spurs and more recently in the stand-off par excellence versus Chelsea. That kind of defensive tactic saves tired legs and, as was demonstrated to the chagrin of Chelsea fans the world over, can even steal a victory -- as though Chelsea fans weren't already acutely aware of that fact.

Back to Saturday, there is even a chance Baines won't be able to play through injury. With the way things are going for Swansea at the moment, and with centre backs Ash Williams and Chico forming the Premier League's best defensive partnership in recent weeks, the time could be ripe for the Swans to beat the habit of a lifetime. With Laudrup's small squad fighting for results on three different fronts at the moment, the win might be too much to ask, but then anything can happen, as recent results have proved.

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Email