26/02/2012 15:00 v Stoke

Two first-half goals were enough to condemn the Swans to a 2-0 defeat against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.

Brendan Rodgers, who handed a Premier League debut to Gerhard Tremmel in goal after Michel Vorm was ruled out through illness, saw his side begin brightly and they could have taken the lead inside the opening two minutes.

Nathan Dyer’s pinpoint ball was met by Scott Sinclair, but the forward could only side-foot over the bar from close range.

At the other end, Peter Crouch headed two chances wide of the target, but it was the hosts who took the lead in the 24th minute.

Matthew Etherington’s corner was met by the head of Matthew Upson, who found the net for his first Stoke goal.

The Swans continued to control possession, but their opponents always looked dangerous at set-pieces.

They doubled the lead six minutes before the break courtesy of another header, as Crouch met Ryan Shotton’s long throw for his 10th goal of the season.

Steven Caulker went close to netting a consolation for the Swans later on when his header was tipped onto the crossbar by Asmir Begovic, but it was to be a frustrating afternoon for Rodgers’ men as they left Staffordshire empty-handed.

STOKE CITY: Asmir Begovic, Ryan Shotton (Wilson Palacios, 88), Andy Wilkinson, Ryan Shawcross, Matthew Upson, Marc Wilson, Dean Whitehead, Glenn Whelan, Matthew Etherington (Cameron Jerome, 68), Jon Walters, Peter Crouch (Rory Delap, 87).

SUBS NOT USED: Thomas Sorensen, Jermaine Pennant, Ricardo Fuller, Kenwyne Jones.

SWANS: Gerhard Tremmel, Angel Rangel, Steven Caulker, Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, Joe Allen, Leon Britton, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Nathan Dyer (Luke Moore, 71), Danny Graham, Scott Sinclair (Josh McEachran, 71).

SUBS NOT USED: Garry Monk, Alan Tate, Mark Gower, Wayne Routledge, Leroy Lita.