NAT WILL DO NICELY Potters win a lifeline for Jones

NATHAN JONES found a welcome in the hillside that might just help keep his job.

The Stoke boss returned to his Welsh homeland where leaders Swansea were so hospitable they even laid on a late winner for Scott Hogan.

Jones had appeared a tortured soul earlier in the week when he spoke of “gambling with people’s lives” by taking on a job that had gone so badly wrong.

But back in the land where his own playing career began, he was given a lifeline when substitute Hogan stabbed the ball home as Stoke won for the first time this season.

Swansea had gone ahead through Andre Ayew inside a minute, before Sam Clucas (inset) equalised against his former club. But Stoke deserved the winner for their adventure and resolve.

They still remain bottom of the table after taking just two points f rom their ei r opening 10 matches.

But Jones said: “It feels good – it’s a good win and a big performance when we needed it.

“I come from a mining community i in Wales and I’ve had to work my socks off to get where I am because I was never blessed with any ability.

“I never had four- year contracts where I could chill and get a cigar out. I had to fight for every part of my career and as a coach I’ve had to do the same. Yes, I was despondent after the other night. Things were happening that shouldn’t be happening. But hopefully, things can now change.”

In truth, it was a low quality gam game where Swansea lo looked anything but p promotion material.

No sooner had Ayew swept the ball home, after Yan D Dhanda’s shot was pa parried by Adam Fd Federici, than their game became error-strewn.

Clucas levelled with a similar goal after 22 minutes and then the visitors spurned a hatful of chances. Lee Gregory had two clear opportunities, Peter Etobo rattled the bar, and Bruno Martins Indi went close.

It looked as though the Swans would escape with a point until Sam Vokes’ header was too firm for Freddie Woodman to hold and Hogan pounced.

Swans boss Steve Cooper admitted: “The result was poor and the performance was equally as poor. The reason we play a certain way is because we think it will win games.

“We did not do that and we got the result we deserved.”