STOKE CITY 2
Shaqiri (36), Diouf (40)
SWANSEA CITY 1
Bony (3)
Stoke claimed a much-needed three points and deepened Swansea’s woes at the bet365 Stadium.
This was a meeting of two out-ofform teams, with both managers playing up the encounter’s importance beforehand. And it is Mark Hughes who can breathe a little more easily after seeing his side recover from Wilfried Bony’s early strike against his former club with goals from Xherdan Shaqiri and Mame Diouf.
Bony had not scored a club goal since the two he managed for Stoke in the same fixture last October. Games between these two sides appear to ignite something in the striker, who beat Ryan Shawcross to Martin Olsson’s cross in just the third minute and fired a brilliant volley beyond Jack Butland.
Butland was a surprise inclusion in the Stoke side after making a speedy recovery from the broken finger he suffered on England duty last month but was left completely helpless.
Long-range efforts from Stoke’s Joe Allen, Shaqiri and Peter Crouch did not threaten Lukasz Fabianski’s goal and there appeared no great danger until they received a helping hand from Swansea. Leroy Fer dwelt on the ball 25 yards from his own goal and paid the price, with Allen nipping in before playing the ball through for Shaqiri, who tucked it in the corner.
Four minutes later, Stoke were ahead. Crouch won a header on the edge of the box and Diouf beat Kyle Naughton to the ball. With Diouf’s team-mates appealing for handball by Naughton, the forward ensured there was no decision for referee Neil Swarbrick to make by volleying into the top corner.
Stoke were forced into a change in the second half when Bruno Martins Indi had to be wheeled off on a stretcher after damaging his groin.
Shawcross put in a fine tackle on Jordan Ayew when he looked to be clean through, while Stoke really should have extended their lead in the 67th minute only for Diouf to head wide.
Moments later, Butland produced his first meaningful save from a Ki Sungyeung shot, and the England man then spared Shawcross’ blushes with a fine save after he glanced Tom Carroll’s freekick towards the top corner.