Sunday 24 January 2016 17:09, UK
Francesco Guidolin feels Swansea deserved to win his first game in charge at Everton despite clinging to their lead for much of the second half.
After seeing Gylfi Sigurdsson's penalty opener cancelled out by Gareth Barry's deflected strike, the Swans went ahead again through Andre Ayew before half-time.
After the break, however, Everton dominated and missed a glut of opportunities to at least take a point if not win the game outright.
Italian Guidolin concedes his players were second best for a lot of the contest but thinks their rugged determination merited reward.
He said: "With the win, it's the perfect way (to start). It was difficult. In the first half we played very, very well but in the second we suffered. I don't think we were lucky but we deserved to win.
"The Premier League is difficult. There are teams with quality players and it is the most important league in the world. I am learning this at the moment."
Guidolin admitted he was far happier with his side's efforts before the interval. Asked what he liked about their performance, he added: "The personality and focus.
"We played very well at the beginning and I like to have a team that plays home and away in the same way.
"Today we played in this way and my team played well for 10 or 15 minutes in the second half but Everton is a good team."
The result takes Swansea to 15tth in the Premier League table and boosts their bid to avoid relegation after a poor season so far.
With consecutive victories now behind them at last after Monday's 1-0 success against Watford, Guidolin feels they have a platform to build on.
He said: "We go day-by-day, step-by-step. This is our target and it is important we have taken six points in two matches. We need confidence so this result is very important for us."
