Rodgers excuses rare off-day for underdogs

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers claims their 2-0 defeat against Everton shows they are still “operating in the art of the underdog”.

Defeat to the Toffees on Saturday ended a run of three superb victories over Wigan, Manchester City and Fulham that had catapulted the Swans up to eighth in the Premier League table, and saw them being mentioned as candidates for European qualification.

And the impact that Swansea have made in the top flight this season has been such that a third home defeat of the season against an established Premier League club is viewed in some quarters as a surprise.