Andre Ayew winner gives Francesco Guidolin's Swansea valuable win at Everton

Francesco Guidolin's reign as Swansea coach got off to a winning start as his side held on for a vital win at Everton.

Guidolin's appointment is seen as a gamble in some quarters but the Italian has been an instant hit at Swansea, who with this result have claimed their first ever league win over Everton.

The Swans started the quicker against a sluggish Everton side and took a deserved lead after John Stones sold Tim Howard short with a back pass, causing the American to bring down Andre Ayew in the box.

Gylfi Sigurdsson converted the penalty expertly, but Everton levelled eight minutes later when Gareth Barry's near-post flick deflected off Jack Cork and into his own net. Ayew was in the thick of the action again before the break, latching onto Neil Taylor's pass and lashing a shot past Howard with the help of a Stones deflection.

Gerard Deulofeu and substitute Seamus Coleman were the bright sparks for Everton as they tried to claw their way back into the game, but Swansea held on for a big win that takes them above Norwich and Bournemouth and a little further away from the relegation zone.

For Everton, it's back to the drawing board as the disquiet at Goodison Park gets a little louder.

4' OFF THE POST! Besic is unlucky as he drives forward from midfield and pokes a low shot against the base of the post from 20 yards. Fabianski was well beaten and it's alarming how quickly the Swans defence opened up there.

16' PENALTY! Swansea penalty after Stones put Howard in trouble with a back pass and Howard foul Ayew. Calamitous stuff by Everton.

17' GOAL! Everton 0-1 Swansea: Sigurdsson sends Howard the wrong way with a textbook penalty into the top left corner. Swansea have a deserved lead.

26' GOAL! Everton 1-1 Swansea: Barry levels for the homes side, making a run to the near post to flick in Deulofeu's corner.

34' GOAL! Everton 1-2 Swansea: Ayew scores for Swansea! Taylor cuts in from the left and feeds Ayew, whose shot deflects off Stones and beyond Howard.

75' CHANCE! Deulofeu once again delivers a brilliant cross from the right that's begging to be touched in, but Lukaku somehow fails to make contact.

87' CHANCE! Good skill by Barkley to dig out a cross for Lukaku, but his header is saved well by Fabianski, who has been excellent.

89' BIG CHANCE! Coleman receives a good through ball, cuts inside Williams but drags his shot wide of the far post.

Andre Ayew has now scored or assisted 9 of the 22 Premier League goals scored by Swansea this season (41%).

Everton have now kept just one clean sheet in their last 14 Premier League games at Goodison Park.

Gerard Deulofeu now has 9 assists in the Premier League this season; only Mesut Özil can better that (16).

Are Everton in crisis? Roberto Martinez's side are in a great position in the League Cup but the bread and butter of the Premier League must take priority and the Toffees have been below par in too many games. They were punished for a slow, lazy start and individual errors have proved costly in a game they simply have to win to move up the table. A League Cup final won't absolve Martinez if his side get dragged into a relation battle.

Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea) - In a game with few standout performers, the Swansea goalkeeper produced another fine display between the sticks, commanding his penalty box well and keeping Everton at bay. Made a big save from Coleman late on.

Everton: Howard 6, Baines 7, Stones 4, Funes Mori 7, Oviedo 5, Barry 8, Besic 5, Mirallas 6, Barkley 7, Deulofeu 8, Lukaku 6. Subs: Cleverley 7, Pienaar 7, Coleman 8.

Swansea: Fabianski 8, Rangel 7, Fernandez 7, Williams 8, Taylor 7, Britton 8, Cork 7, Ki 7, Sigurdsson 7, Routledge 7, Ayew 7. Subs: Amat n/a, Eder n/a, Naughton n/a.