Preview | Stoke City v Swansea City

Swansea City are looking to return to winning ways as they travel to the bet365 Stadium this evening to face Stoke City (7.45pm kick-off).

The Potteries has not proved to be a happy hunting for the Swans over the years, having managed just one win in their past 11 visits, a record head coach Russell Martin will be keen to improve on

Newly-appointed Potters boss Alex Neil takes charge for the first time and will be hoping to get his time in Stoke off to a winning start as the squad look to build on a 1-0 win at Blackburn last time out.

TEAM NEWS

Ben Cabango will be out for the trip to Stoke as he serves a one-match ban after picking up two yellow cards in defeat to Middlesbrough on the weekend.

Jamie Paterson is fit and in contention while new signings Luke Cundle and Armstrong Oko-Flex could both be involved.

Liam Walsh (Achilles) and Joel Latibeaudiere (shoulder) are long-term absentees.

PRE-MATCH VIEWS

Russell Martin:

“I understand the mentality of Alex (Neil new Stoke City manager) and what he’ll expect from his team and what he’ll prioritise, I think that can maybe help us.

“I'm looking forward to playing against a previous manager. He’s done a great job wherever he’s been.

“It’ll make the atmosphere more buoyant and I’m sure the players will be desperate to prove themselves in the first game so you have all that to contend with."

Alex Neil:

"What I'm hoping is that we look really organised. I think we've got good threats among the group. I think there will be good opportunities for us to attack and we'll hopefully see some attacking flair coming out with the players.

"It'll be a tough game, as every game in the Championship is, but we want to imprint our style on Swansea.

"They're a good side. Results haven't always reflected performances. I watched the Blackburn game in particular and Blackburn won but Swansea could have easily scored three or four goals with gilt-edged chances."

REMEMBER THE LAST TIME?

It was a difficult evening for 10-man Swansea City, as a trio of second-half goals saw Stoke City claim all three points on their last visit to the bet365 Stadium

The Potters enjoyed the better of the first half without ever forcing Andy Fisher into a meaningful save.

But Jaden Philogene-Bidace opened the scoring before Lewis Baker doubled the advantage from the spot, as Ryan Bennett was dismissed after being deemed to have handled a goalbound shot.

Jacob Brown then compounded the Swans misery when he drove home from the right side of the area inside the final 12 minutes.

PRIME NUMBERS

4 – Stoke City have four players who have got on the scoresheet in the league so far. Lewis Baker, Jacob Brown, D’Margio Wright-Phillips, and Harry Clarke all have goals to their name. Joel Piroe’s converted penalty took the Swans to five goalscorers as he joined Harry Darling, Olivier Ntcham, Michael Obafemi and Ryan Manning with one goal for the season so far.

21 – Swansea’s 2-1 win at the bet365 Stadium in 2021 was their first victory there since March 2001 and just their second since 1982. While there were long periods where the two sides didn’t meet, the North Staffordshire outfit have proven a tough opponent for Swans in the Potteries.