FA Cup: Everton v Swansea City match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's fifth round fixture

Roberto Martinez faces his former team Swansea on Sunday (GETTY IMAGES)

Everton will host Swansea in their FA Cup fifth-round tie at Goodison Park this weekend, with Roberto Martinez’s men looking to continue their prolific form in the competition, having scored eight goals in two games.

Swansea have had a decent cup run themselves, knocking out Birmingham City at St. Andrews and Manchester United at Old Trafford. Having said that, the Swans’ record against the Toffees isn’t favourable in the slightest, playing 18 games, losing thirteen and drawing five. The last time both teams faced each other in the FA Cup was in 1954, seeing Everton prevailing with a 3-0 victory at Goodison Park, suggesting that history almost definitely favours the Blues.

Everton’s league record, however, suggests that we might be in for an unpredictable encounter, as the Toffees have lost two in three games. Swansea, under new manager Garry Monk, will be looking to build on their 1-1 stalemate against Stoke and their 3-0 thumping of Cardiff on Saturday. But again, Everton look the favourites, having only lost one home game in 2013/14.

KICK-OFF: Sunday, 1.30pm

LAST THREE MEETINGS

Swansea 1 – 2 Everton (Premier League, 22 Dec 2013)

Everton 0 – 0 Swansea (12 Jan 2013)

Swansea 0 – 3 Everton (22 Sept 2013)

STATS:

Everton have won the FA Cup five times whilst Swansea have only managed two semi-final appearances - one in the 1925/26 and the other in 1963/64.

The last time Swansea went further than the fifth round in the FA Cup was in 1963/64, only to get knocked out by Preston North End in the semi-final.

Everton will be without their joint top-scorer in the competition, Nikica Jelavic (2), as he joined Hull in January to get more first team opportunities.

Swansea striker Wilfried Bony will be given an opportunity to add to his tally in the FA Cup, having scored three goals in two games.

ODDS:

Everton to win: 8/13

Swansea to win: 9/2

Draw: 14/5

TV: ITV 1 at 1.30pm, highlights on ITV 1 at 10.45pm