Good evening and welcome to Mirror Football's live blog ahead of this evening's Premier League clash between Stoke City and Swansea City.
Here, we'll have all the build-up to the game as well as analysis of the weekend's action from Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry, courtesy of Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, and, of course, minute-by-minute updates from the match itself.
Stay tuned!
Key Events So Far
- GOOOALLLL!!! SWANSEA ARE LEVEL! What a start at the Britanni...
- GOOOOAAALLLLLL!! BONY PUTS STOKE AHEAD! Well, it just had to...
- Mark Hughes speaks ahead of the match
- Bob Bradley speaks ahead of tonight's match
- Starting XIs confirmed
We’re off! Stoke have got proceedings up and running in the second half.
A lively affair then so far at the Britannia, but both sides have just lacked that little bit of extra quality in the final third so far to make the most of their chances.
HALF-TIME! We’re level at the interval, then, as Wayne Routledge’s 7th-minute header cancelled out Wilfired Bony’s first Stoke goal. Swansea have looked threatening since restoring parity, though it is the hosts who should have re-taken the lead - Charlie Adam having hit the post twice before Marko Arnautovic also rattled the woodwork.
A final chance for Stoke as Adam floats in a free-kick, but it comes to nothing as Mawson hacks the cross clear.
Overall Possession Ratio
- StokeKey color for Stoke
- SwanseaKey color for Swansea
Possession
We’re into the first minute of three added on now at the Britannia.
GREAT SAVE! Top-class play from Llorente, who tees Routledge up with a fantastic knock-down. Boosted by his earlier goal, the winger tries his luck with a venomous half-volley, but Grant reacts instinctively to tip it wide.
Swansea are forced into a change now, as Kyle Naughton has to make way after picking up a knock. His replacement is Angel Rangel.
STOKE HIT THE POST AGAIN! How close can you get!? For a third time this evening, the hosts have rattled the woodwork. It’s a brilliant move from Hughes’ side - Sobhi playing in Allen, who in turn slides a delightful pass into Arnautovic. The Austria winger does almost everything right, taking it round Fabianksi before drilling a strike goalwards, but he is denied by the foot of the post.
A hefty collision leaves Barrow temporarily winded, but the Swansea winger returns to his feet quickly enough. Moments later, Bony scythes Fer down with a late challenge, though he escapes a booking.
ADAM HITS THE POST! Again, the Stoke midfielder goes agonisingly close to restoring the home side’s advantage, this time clattering a curling effort against the top of the left-hand upright. So unlucky!
STAT - Stoke have never lost at home to Swansea City in the Premier League (W3 D2), and the Welsh side’s only top-flight victory at Stoke came in October 1981.
Overall Possession Ratio
- StokeKey color for Stoke
- SwanseaKey color for Swansea
Possession
Swansea are in control at the moment, and again carve open Stoke's midfield with a neat passing move. The ball is eventually worked into Sigurdsson, but his effort drops kindly into the arms of Grant.
Although Shaqiri had been on the fringes of this game so far, his departure will represent a boost to Swansea, though of course their defence now has the somewhat unknown quantity of Sobhi to deal with.
Indeed, the hosts have now made that enforced change. Shaqiri goes off, and is replaced by promising Egyptian youngster Ramadan Sobhi.
A real blow now for Stoke, as it appears that Shaqiri - who has already matched his three-goal haul from last season this term - will not be able to carry on. As I type, Sigurdsson’s strike is deflected wide by Martins-Indi.
Taylor is fortunate to escape a yellow card, here, after he dived in late on Bardsley. Michael Oliver has done the Wales defender a favour there.
POST! That’s so close to a second for Stoke. Naughton falls asleep down the right, allowing Arnautovic to nip in and tee up Adam. The Scotsman’s strike is superb, but it rattles off the outside of the woodwork.
That early goal seems to have revitalised Bony, who has put in a dynamic and energetic display so far. However, the game has just settled into a bit of a lull now following that whirlwind start.
Again, Sigurdsson gets free in the final third and, once more, he attempts to pick out a teammate with a looping cross. This time, however, the delivery is a poor one, and Grant is able to gather it in.
Great work from Allen who - after initially conceding possession with an unusually slack pass - recovers excellently to prevent Swansea countering.
Overall Possession Ratio
- StokeKey color for Stoke
- SwanseaKey color for Swansea
Possession
STAT - Since leaving Swansea, Bony has scored more PL goals against his former club - more than he has against any other side (3).
Stoke have reacted well to Swansea’s equaliser, but the visitors look a real threat on the counter, with Barrow’s pace causing the home side some issues down the right.
