A combination of poor finishing and last-ditch defending prevented Everton from picking up maximum points against Swansea City at Goodison Park this afternoon.

© PA Photos

The Toffees could not find the net with any of their 16 shots as they failed to score for the first time in 19 Premier League outings.

Nikica Jelavic was heavily involved in the early stages, dragging an 18-yard shot wide before forcing Michel Vorm into a decent diving save.

The Swans stopper also denied Phil Neville and Victor Anichebe on his way to keeping his fourth clean sheet of the season.

However, he was beaten when Jelavic flicked a Leighton Baines delivery towards the far corner, only for Dwight Tiendalli to head the ball off the goalline.

While Everton had the majority of the chances, it was Swansea who came the closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half.

Tim Howard was forced to tip a bending effort from Michu onto the crossbar as the Spaniard impressed in front of onlooking national team boss Vicente del Bosque.

That was to be a rare Swans attack as Everton increased the pressure in the second period, but both Phil Jagielka and Marouane Fellaini sent good headed chances off target.

Steven Naismith squandered a late opportunity as Everton missed out on the chance to cut the gap to Tottenham Hotspur in fourth.