Swansea City vs Stoke City. Premier League.
Swansea.com StadiumAttendance20,044.
Tuesday 20 October 2015 08:36, UK
Stoke City claimed their third successive Premier League victory by defeating Swansea City 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium on Monday night.
Bojan gave the away side the lead from the penalty spot in the third minute after being brought down in the 18-yard box by Swansea captain Ashley Williams.
Swansea failed to fashion a clear chance during the opening 45 minutes and were lucky not to fall further behind, with Stoke defender Glen Johnson going close to doubling the away side's advantage.
The home side came close to an equaliser midway through the second-half as Jonjo Shelvey struck the post, but they were unable find a leveller as Stoke held on for their first win at Swansea since 1993.
The Potters travelled to south Wales in good form, having beaten Aston Villa and Bournemouth prior to the international break and made a commanding start with Bojan hitting the net.
The Spanish forward produced a superb mazy run and held off the challenge of Federico Fernandez before being brought down by Williams inside the 18-yard box. Bojan picked himself up and made no mistake from the spot, curling his effort into the top corner.
Stoke continued to impress, but were lucky not to concede shortly after opening the scoring following a mistake from goalkeeper Jack Butland.
The England international, under no pressure, miskicked his clearance into the path of Andre Ayew, but produced a last-ditch tackle to deny the Swansea forward getting a shot on goal.
Mark Hughes' side quickly recovered from Butland's lapse and remained firmly in control of proceedings, with Johnson firing just wide of the post after being put through by Xherdan Shaqiri prior to the half-time interval.
Stoke remained on the front foot following the break and were denied a second goal when Marko Arnautovic was flagged offside after he slotted past Lukasz Fabianski following good work on the left from Erik Pieters.
Swansea rallied immediately and went close to claiming an equaliser through Shelvey. The England midfielder, collecting the ball inside the 18-yard box, fizzed his powerful low shot past Butland, but it cannoned back off the post.
Garry Monk attempted to freshen his side up and introduced Gylfi Sigurdsson on the hour mark. It nearly had the desired effect, with the midfielder going close with a 30-yard effort which whistled just over the crossbar.
A late call for a Swansea penalty, as Jefferson Montero fell under the challenge of Johnson, was waved away by referee Robert Madley as Stoke held on to secure victory, which lifts them to 11th in the Premier League. Swansea, now without a win in five league matches, remain 13th.
Swansea: Fabianski (6), Rangel (5), Fernandez (5), Williams (5), Taylor (5), Cork (5), Shelvey (6), Barrow (6), Ayew (5), Montero (5), Gomis (5).
Subs used: Sigurdsson (6), Ki (5), Eder (5).
Subs not used: Nordfeldt, Naughton, Bartley, Britton.
Stoke: Butland (7), Pieters (7), Wollscheid (7), Cameron (7), Johnson (7), Adam (7), Whelan (7), Shaqiri (7), Bojan (8), Arnautovic (7), Joselu (7).
Subs used: Ireland (5), Afellay (5), Van Ginkel (5).
Subs not used: Haugaard, Muniesa, Wilson, Crouch.
Man of the Match: Bojan.
