Everton's pre-season schedule got off to a winning start on Saturday as they thrashed Swindon Town 4-0 at the County Ground.
After a goalless first half the Toffees took control at the start of the second period when Kevin Mirallas scored two goals in quick succession.
Romelu Lukaku then found the net towards the end of the encounter, while Conor McAleny sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how the action unfolded.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of today's pre-season friendly between Everton and Swindon Town at the County Ground. This is Everton's first proper friendly of the summer, while Swindon will be looking to get back on track after losing to Swindon Supermarine earlier in the week. Team news will be through shortly.
EVERTON: Howard; Jagielka, Kone, Naismith, McCarthy, Barkley, Deulofeu, Pienaar, Coleman, Browning, Galloway
Everton boss Roberto Martinez has named a strong-looking side for today's encounter, but it's worth noting that the Spaniard is expected to make 11 changes at half time. In the meantime, the likes of Phil Jagielka, Arouna Kone, Ross Barkley and James McCarthy all start. Gerard Deulofeu also makes his second debut for the club after returning from Barcelona.
SWINDON: Belford; Williams, Rossi-Broneo, Sendles-White, Robert, Ormonde-Ottoneill, Byrne, Smith, Obika, Kasim, Traore
Swindon Town manager Mark Cooper has named a mixed bag of a side for this afternoon's clash, but he's also expected to make a whole host of changes during the break. As it is, there's a blend of youth and experience in there, with some trialists also taking their places among the starting XI.
There's no glossing over the fact that these games are mainly for managers to experiment and for players to gain some fitness after the summer break. The level of competitiveness will be interesting to see, but don't expect a frantic pace at the County Ground this afternoon.
Everton attacking midfielder Steven Naismith: "It is good to look forward to the first game. Everybody will probably get a run out and have the chance to get back into the swing of things in terms of preparation and the minutes on the park, which are crucial."
One thing that both managers will be eager to avoid today is injuries. Swindon have three more friendlies to come after this, with two of those matches against Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion. Meanwhile, Everton travel to Singapore next week for the Premier League Asia Trophy.
While the result doesn't really matter in games like this, it's hard to look beyond anything other than a win for Everton this afternoon. Roberto Martinez has shown no fear by sticking a number of his big guns in, and you would imagine that they will put a few past Swindon today.
Swindon Town striker Michael Smith: "We're up against a Premier League team which is really good and Everton will be another good test. Playing against top teams you can see what you need to do to get to that next level."
While there is a healthy Everton contingent tucked away in one corner of the County Ground, it must be said that there's a lack of Swindon support inside the stadium. You would have thought that the turnout would have been better with a Premier League club in town.
KICKOFF! The teams are out, the pre-match handshakes have been done, and it will be Everton to get us underway.
CHANCES! A sloppy start from Everton almost gifts Swindon the lead! Coleman's pass to Howard doesn't have much power on it, forcing the goalkeeper to rush of his line and clear under pressure. Howard then makes a fine stop, pushing a 25-yards drive away from danger.
Both teams have been making plenty of errors during the opening stages, making for a scrappy match. However, it's Swindon who have looked the more dangerous going forward. Kasim in particular has been lively, giving the visitors a few problems from deep.
Deulofeu gets involved down the right, linking up with Pienaar, but the Spaniard's attempted pass inside to Naismith is cut out by the Swindon defence. Everton have yet to get going so far.
This is better from Everton. The Toffees are starting to put a few decisive passes together and are generally keeping the ball much better. Deulofeu makes a run down the right before finding Coleman around the penalty spot, but the defender scuffs his effort well wide.
It's all Everton now. Deulofeu is in the thick of the action once again as he is set free down the right. The winger races past his marker, but his touch at the vital moment is too heavy and the ball runs through to goalkeeper Tyrell Belford.
CHANCE! Everton come close to taking the lead following an incisive move around the box. Kone is fed by Barkley before flicking a cute pass through to Naismith. The Scot has a crack from a tight angle, but Belford is there to push it away.
WHOOSH! Another opportunity for the visitors as Pienaar is teed up on the edge of the box. The South African opts to hit it first time, only to see his shot sail high over the crossbar. He should have done better there because he had bags of time and space.
Now it's Swindon's turn to attack as Smith tries his luck from the edge of the box before seeing his drive deflected over. The resulting corner comes to nothing as the hosts are penalised for a foul on Jagielka.
Everton are looking full of attacking intent whenever they get forward as we approach the half-way mark in the first half. Deulofeu attacks Swindon once again with his pace and dynamism before striking a tame effort into the arms of Belford from 20 yards.
Swindon have been second best so far, but they've looked decent going forward. Some quick play in midfield allows Smith to have a go from the edge of the area, but his effort goes over the crossbar and into the stand behind the goal.
Mark Cooper will be pleased with what he's seen from his players during the last five minutes or so. Swindon are showing no fear in attacking Everton, that's for sure. It's been impressive how quickly they've moved the ball in midfield, turning defence into attack.
CHANCE! Deulofeu causes Swindon problems yet again as he receives the ball on the right before firing a powerful shot from a difficult angle towards goal. However, Belford is there to push it away before the resulting corner comes to nothing.
CHANCE! It's quite incredible how this game is still goalless because both teams have had their opportunities. This time it's Obika for Swindon, who shows quick feet in midfield before drilling a low shot narrowly wide of the target.
One player who has looked fairly rusty for Everton so far is Kone. The striker has been involved in plenty of the away side's attacks, but his poor passing has cost them on more than one occasion.
Swindon are heaping more and more pressure on Everton now as we head into the final 10 minutes of the first half. The League One outfit are being afforded plenty of space in midfield, which is allowing them to really get at Everton.
Another swift Swindon attack sees Obika burst forward before feeding Ormonde-Ottewill on the edge of the area. However, his first-time effort is a weak one that Howard gets down easily to save.
PENALTY APPEAL! Swindon want a penalty as McCarthy bundles into Robert, but the referee gives the decision the other way. Replays suggest that it was just a clash of bodies.
Swindon are finishing the first half strongly as they threaten Everton once again. Byrne is at the heart of the move, combining with a couple of teammates down the right before the move breaks down.
HALF TIME: SWINDON 0-0 EVERTON
A bit of a strange moment at the County Ground as the referee blows the half-time whistle a good 90 seconds early. Duncan Ferguson looks like he's got something to say about it on the bench as the players and officials make their way down the tunnel.
That was a fairly entertaining first half for a pre-season friendly, with both sides doing their share of attacking. Everton have been the better team so far, but Swindon have also looked dangerous going forward. It would be fair to say that Gerard Deulofeu has been the stand-out player this afternoon. The Spaniard has been very lively down the right flank.
As mentioned before the match, we're expecting 11 changes from Everton during the interval. It's unclear how many Swindon will make, but they're likely to do at least some tinkering.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The teams are back out for the second half and Everton have made nine changes. Here's their second-half lineup: Joel; Hibbert, Browning, Barry, Galloway, Besic, Cleverley, McAleny, Osman, Mirallas, Lukaku
Meanwhile, it looks as if Swindon have made a couple of changes, though it's hard to see just who they are at the moment!
GOAL! SWINDON 0-1 EVERTON (MIRALLAS)
Everton 2.0 take the lead thanks to a cool finish from Kevin Mirallas. However, plenty of credit must go to McAleny, who threaded a lovely ball through to the Belgian. From there Mirallas was able to round the goalkeeper and slot home.
GOAL! SWINDON 0-2 EVERTON (MIRALLAS)
Everton extend their lead and it's Kevin Mirallas who finds the net again! McAleny picks out Lukaku down the left with a neat pass, allowing the striker to square for his fellow Belgian. Mirallas then shows quick feet to take it past the goalkeeper and pass the ball into the net from close range.
There's been that extra bit of dynamism from Everton in the second half following those nine changes. They saw plenty of the ball in the first half and did plenty of attacking, but this lineup now has a bit more teeth to it with the likes of Mirallas and Lukaku leading the line.
CHANCE! McAleny, who has been very sharp since coming on at half time, comes close with a drive from 25 yards that fizzes inches wide of the post.
It's all Everton at the moment as Swindon struggle to get hold of the ball. Rossi Branco is lucky to get away without a card after catching McAleny late with a reckless challenge.
Swindon are dicing with death a bit as they try to play it out from the back. Goalkeeper Belford gets himself in a spot of bother as he tries to dribble the ball between Lukaku and Mirallas, but he somehow gets away with it.
SWINDON SUBS: The hosts make three changes as three trialists take the places of Belford, Kasim and Ormonde-Ottewill. Just under half an hour remaining at the County Ground, where Everton are in complete control.
CHANCE! It should really be 3-0 to Everton following a scramble in the penalty area. Lukaku is the first to see his shot blocked before McAleny's effort is also charged down. Osman's scuffed effort then looks to be creeping in, but the goalkeeper claws the ball off the line.
Bad news for Everton as Besic goes straight down the tunnel after pulling up with a leg injury. It's hard to tell what happened there, but it could be his hamstring that went. Jonjoe Kenny takes his place.
CHANCE! Swindon come within inches of reducing the deficit as Obika tries to curl the ball into the far corner from the edge of the box, but his shot flies narrowly wide. Obika has probably been the home side's best player this afternoon.
SWINDON SUB: That's Obika's last involvement for today because he's replaced by Josh Cooke. Meanwhile, Branco and one of the trialists are off, with Storey and another trialist on.
Everton are continuing to do most of the pressing as we head towards the final 15 minutes of this game. A patient move involving Lukaku, Mirallas and Cleverley ends with the latter lopping a cross out of play from the left. Cleverley then gets himself into a good shooting position soon after, but his shot goes well over.
CHANCE! Nearly 3-0 for Everton as Browning jumps highest from a corner before seeing his header eventually scrambled away by the hosts. Everton are still knocking on the Swindon door with just over 10 minutes left to play.
Swindon win themselves a corner that's whipped in with plenty of zip from the right, but it evades everyone and Everton are able to clear the danger.
Something of a half-chance for Everton as Lukaku dances past a couple of defenders before the goalkeeper comes off his line to claim the ball. The big Belgian showed very quick feet there inside a crowded box.
PHOTOS: Mirallas rounds the keeper and celebrates his opener at the County Ground. The Toffees still lead 2-0. pic.twitter.com/5A008M8bcT
— Everton (@Everton) July 11, 2015
GOAL! SWINDON 0-3 EVERTON (LUKAKU)
Everton wrap up the win in emphatic style as Romelu Lukaku makes it 3-0. McAleny is involved again, bursting down the right before picking out the striker in the box. Lukaku takes one touch to get the ball out from under his feet before lashing it home.
GOAL! SWINDON 0-4 EVERTON (MCALENY)
He's been involved in three goals this afternoon and now Conor McAleny caps a fine second-half performance with a well-taken goal. Swindon gift the ball to Lukaku, who runs towards goal before playing in McAleny on the right. The youngster then composes himself before finding the net with a low drive. Thoroughly deserved, that.
FULL TIME: SWINDON 0-4 EVERTON
The full-time whistle goes and Everton have got their pre-season schedule up and running with an emphatic win. All the goals came in the second half as Romelu Lukaku and Conor McAleny both found the net after Kevin Mirallas scored twice.
That's all from our live text coverage of this afternoon's game, we hope you've enjoyed it. Thanks for your company and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
