Stoke City recovery in full swing! 2-0 defeat of Swansea

Stoke rise to 19th (of 24)! A major step forward after such a woeful start to the season. A competent promotion-seeking Swansea were swept aside by 2nd half goals by Clucas & later McClean. Swansea manager didn’t think it was a 2-0 game, but he clearly was watching a different game. As he missed it, here’s how the real Stoke-Swansea game unfolded in real time:
After beating leaders Albion away, this is the follow up home game that Stoke usually lose. Goalscorer and new 4 year contractor Tyrese is hamstrung, & Vokes gets a chance to prove his career’s not over. Me, I’d have gone for Gregory all day long, although it’s noted that Diouf returns to the bench…
10.33 Ref plays on as Joe Allen is hacked down clearing the ball, playing the advantage…only Nick Powell loses the ball on the break, just when he should have pulled the trigger. Tommy Smith, who has to rush back to cover, gives Nick a withering look. And the crowd boo the ref for not booking Conor Gallagher for the assault on Joe.

16.30 Poor Capt Matt Grimes pleads with the ref that he didn’t foul big bad James McClean. Like that’s going to work. But the subsequent Stoke free kick is a farce; pre-planned but too obvious. Embarrassing.
18.56 Joe Allen almost loses the ball, but makes up for it by bringing out a finger-tipper out of keeper Woodman. Blistering.
24.01 Gallagher has another stab at Joe Allen, this time from behind, and is amusingly indignant to be yellow carded! The phrase “had it coming” was made for Conor.
28.55 Powell loses the ball…again. Needs to get his touch back. Meanwhile, the Ince-Smith partnership down the right is not going well either. Good passing, but poor crosses.
38.50 Nick Powell not only loses the ball (predictably) but also tries to hack down his opposite number from behind in frustration! He then gets elbowed in the face in the next challenge. Not going his way. Diouf awaits on the bench.
45+1 A lot of running about, but not much to see. HT 0-0.
Attendance: 22593
50.18 Gallagher’s shot is so weak that Jack has to do a little hop to make it look like he’s making a save.
51.28 McClean not having a good one either. after a weak cross from Jim, Clucas returns it from the right, only for James to fail to connect properly.
54.12 1-0 !!!!! Clucas belts it home from the edge of the box after being set up by Joe Allen. Sam then runs all the way down to rub it in the face of the Swansea fans. Not wise.
55.50 …and then Clucas concedes a free kick on the edge of the area. Really, Sam? The free kick hits the bar, and his headed clear by….Sam Clucas.
59.50 Liam Lindsay intercepts a clear goal, and McClean breaks…but the ref calls a foul on James which clearly it isn’t and the replay only makes the ref look foolish. Crowd and Jim VERY angry, particularly as the ref passed on another foul on Joe.
65.35 Vokes misses his big chance, a header from a corner from the right. Soon after he goes down, and remarkably Lee Gregory is ready on the sidelines. Vokes suddenly looks OK. What sort of wizardry is this?
69.48 Another great intercept by Lindsay in front of goal. Contender for Man of Match, but no doubt, will be overlooked. Batth now getting in on the act, tackling like a trooper.
74.01 Again Jack does a little hop to make it look like he’s making a complex catch…when in fact he’s just flattering Swansea. Meanwhile Clucas goes off injured (briefly) in front of the unsurprisingly unsympathetic Swansea fans! Reap…sow…
75.55 Stoke break and Gregory puts a sitter over the bar! That was a flashback to Nathan Jones times.
80.45 Clucas and then Allen clatter in chances, but somehow the ball stays out, and Stoke cling to their 1-0 lead.
83.35 The strange combination that is Indi and McClean down the left almost bears fruit, as Indi charges down the left, and crosses hard for McClean who deflects the wayward ball wide.
86.57 Tom Ince gets warm applause when subbed (for Collins). In other news, Clucas is given Man of Match (unsurprisingly), and seconds after he has to rescue Jack who fumbles the ball.
90+1 2-0 !!! James McClean breaks and HAMMERS the ball straight through keeper Woodman (clearly not made of wood!).
90+2 Diouf replaces Powell…and not before time.
90+3 And SCFC do the double over SCFC! 2-0, & Stoke up to 19th. It’s starting to happen at the bet365.
Dave Lee
Dave Lee
Sports Reporter - Stoke City

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