Preview: Stoke v Swans
Swansea City go in search of their second away Premier League win of the season when they face Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium this afternoon (3pm).
Paul Clement’s side were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening thanks to an Antonio Rudiger goal.
The Swans now face a Stoke side who are also struggling for form having won only three of their 14 Premier League matches this season.
Stoke will be aiming to bounce back from a heavy 3-0 defeat at home to Liverpool on Wednesday which leaves them in 16th position in the Premier League table.
History is not on the Swans’ side as they aim for an away win this afternoon, as they haven’t won at Stoke since a 2-1 success in the third tier in March 2001.
The Swans’ last victory against the Potters came at home in April thanks to goals from Fernando Llorente and Tom Carroll.
Today’s match is likely to see the Swans lining up against Liberty old boy Joe Allen, who has made 13 Premier League appearances for Stoke this season.
Wilfried Bony, meantime, is set to face his former loan club.
Team news
Stoke will be without goalkeeper Jack Butland (finger), whilst Geoff Cameron will also miss out after sustaining a head injury.
The Swans will be without defender Federico Fernandez, who returned to his native Argentina following his father’s passing, while Kyle Bartley remains on the sidelines due to a knee problem.
But the good news is that Tammy Abraham is back in contention having been ineligible to face Chelsea in midweek.
What they said
Stoke manager Mark Hughes: “For our own benefit it feels like a must-win game. We need to be strong in character and determination and go pick up more points.”
Swans boss Paul Clement: “I believe we have a very important game coming up against Stoke. I think we need to treat it like a cup final, it’s really important.”
Last six meetings
22.4.17 Swans 2-0 Stoke
31.10.16 Stoke 3-1 Swans
2.4.16 Stoke 2-2 Swans
19.10.15 Swans 0-1 Stoke
2.5.15 Swans 2-0 Stoke
19.10.14 Stoke 2-1 Swans
Pre-match stats
13 – Stoke have picked up 13 points from 14 matches so far in this Premier League campaign. That is their worst ever points total after 14 games of a Premier League campaign and six points fewer than at this point last season.
14 – The Swans have exactly the same record after 14 matches this term as they did in the 2016-17 Premier League campaign, with two wins, three draws and nine defeats (nine points).
