Stoke City v Swansea City Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Bet365 Stadium Date - 8 February 2022 Kick off - 7:45pm Following their hard-fought victory over second-placed Blackburn Rovers, next up for Russell Martin’s Swansea squad is a tough looking away match against Stoke City. Last Saturday evening, the Swans began shakily against Blackburn, but seized the initiative with their first attack of any note. Paterson had sat out Swansea's previous five league games after telling Martin he was not in the right frame of mind to play because of issues over his contract situation. The former Bristol City forward has barely trained in recent weeks, yet such is Swansea's need for some attacking inspiration that Martin put him straight back into his side. That decision was swiftly justified as Paterson crossed perfectly from the left for the unmarked Obafemi to head home his first goal at this ground since joining from Southampton last August. The Swans held on for a welcome victory despite having Ryan Manning sent off just after half-time. Russell Martin's team climb to 16th, while Blackburn stay second. Earlier that same afternoon, Stoke moved into the FA Cup fifth round with a routine win over League One promotion hopefuls Wigan Athletic. Josh Maja pounced on an error to poke Stoke in front on his debut in the first half, as Michael O'Neill's side made the breakthrough. Jacob Brown added the Potters' second after the break, finishing off a slick move to score. The Latics kept battling, but Gwion Edwards' dismissal in the 74th minute for two bookings all but ended their hopes of progress. The Swans have played Stoke on 77 previous occasions winning 25, losing 31, with 21 drawn. In last season’s corresponding fixture, the Swans ran out 2-1 winners thanks to an Andre Ayew 96th minute penalty: Turning to Tuesday evening, hopefully the Swans will be able to return to South Wales with at least a point, but Stoke will want to try and get their play off place aspirations back on the road. I think the Swans will draw 1-1
Thanks Taff. Despite last season's win this is a ground where we don't have a good record. Naughton and Manning will be out so I expect the back 3 will be Bennett, Downes and Cabango again. Saturdays match will have been quite draining as most of the players had to put a shift in to secure the win. So maybe a question mark over Pato where it was his first game for a while. Having said that we are more than capable of getting a point so it wouldn't surprise me if its a dour 0-0 on a cold night in the Potteries.
Thanks again Taff. Been to Stoke many times over the years with very little positive results to come home with. On the red button tomorrow in the armchair and if we perform at a good level we can get 3 points tomorrow
Sadly Clucas will play well and be a ****house. we will not get a penalty we will not score from a corner just a hunch!
The NFL Show: Osi Umenyiora previews Los Angeles Rams v San Francisco 49ers in play-offs - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/american-football/60176681 Cold rainy nights in Stoke even gets a mention on NFL Show by Osi (about 1:20 in)
Swansea City boss Russell Martin has made three changes for tonight’s Championship meeting with Stoke at the bet365 Stadium. Ryan Bennett, Jay Fulton and Korey Smith come into the XI as the suspended Ryan Manning misses out, while Jamie Paterson and Joel Piroe drop to the bench. Andy Fisher continues between the sticks for the visitors, with Bennett joining Flynn Downes and Ben Cabango in the three-man backline. Cyrus Christie and Hannes Wolf will be the wing-backs, with Fulton lining up alongside skipper Matt Grimes in midfield. Olivier Ntcham and Korey Smith will provide support to Michael Obafemi in attack. Stoke, meanwhile, include former Swans Joe Allen and Ben Wilmot in their starting line-up. Stoke City: Joe Bursik, Joe Allen (captain), Tyrese Campbell, Josh Tymon, Ben Wilmot, Jacob Brown, Phil Jagielka, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Nick Powell, Lewis Baker, Jaden Philogene-Bidace. Substitutes: Jack Bonham, Tommy Smith, Liam Moore, Sam Clucas, Steven Fletcher, D'Margio Wright-Phillips, Josh Maja. Swansea City: Andy Fisher; Ryan Bennett, Flynn Downes, Ben Cabango; Cyrus Christie, Jay Fulton, Matt Grimes (captain), Hannes Wolf; Korey Smith, Olivier Ntcham; Michael Obafemi. Substitutes: Ben Hamer, Jamie Paterson, Kyle Joseph, Joel Piroe, Yan Dhanda, Joel Latibeaudiere, Finley Burns.
