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Sports Mole's live text coverage as
Swansea City entertain
Stoke City in the Premier League. It's a big match for both teams today as they look to climb the table. We should have some team news through shortly.
SWANSEA: Tremmel; Rangel, Chico, Williams, Davies; Britton, de Guzman, Pozuelo, Lamah, Routledge; Bony
SWANSEA SUBS: Zabret, Amat, Taylor, Shelvey, Dyer, Canas, Vazquez
Swansea boss Michael Laudrup makes five changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Kuban Krasnodar in the Europa League on Thursday night. Gerhard Tremmel replaces the suspended Michel Vorm, while Angel Rangel, Chico Flores, Leon Britton and Wayne Routledge all return.
STOKE: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters; Walters, Nzonzi, Ireland, Palacios, Arnautovic; Crouch
STOKE SUBS: Sorensen, Whelan, Jones, Wilson, Adam, Assaidi, Etherington
Just the one change for Stoke as Wilson Palacios comes in for
Jonathan Walters. The Potters come into this match on the back of a 1-1 draw with Southampton last weekend.
So, what's at stake for these two teams today? Swansea will be eager to get back on track after losing 1-0 at South-Wales rivals Cardiff City last weekend. The Swans are only two points above the relegation zone as it stands - a position that has been alien to them for the past couple of seasons. However, they can move into the top half of the table with a victory today.
For Stoke, it's a case of win today and they will be out of the drop zone. Mark Hughes's men are currently one point from safety after taking nine points from their opening 10 matches.
There are a few other matches being played in the Premier League today, the first of which finished earlier today with Newcastle United earning a surprise
1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester City are currently losing 1-0 at Sunderland with about 20 minutes left to play in that one.
HEAD TO HEAD: Stoke edge their head-to-head record with Swansea 21-16 following their first encounter back in 1925. There have also been 16 draws since then.
Since Swansea's return to the Premier League there have been two wins apiece for them and Stoke. Michael Laudrup's side earned a 3-1 win in this fixture last season after a 2-0 victory for Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.
RECENT FORM:
SWANSEA: LWDDLD
STOKE: LLDLWD
As you can see from the team's recent results, there hasn't been a great deal of consistency between them. In fact, Swansea are yet to string together two consecutive wins in the Premier League this season. Meanwhile, Stoke have managed it just the once.
UPDATE: There are only about five minutes of normal time left at the Stadium of Light, but Sunderland still lead Man City 1-0. We will bring you the final score of that one as soon as the full-time whistle goes.
Despite the five changes made by Swansea boss Michael Laudrup, one has to wonder whether the team's trip to Russia on Thursday in the Europa League will have any bearing on their fitness today. Some of the players who featured in the match could well be lagging towards the end of this one today.
UPDATE: The final whistle has blown at the Stadium of Light and Sunderland have earned an incredible 1-0 win over the might of Manchester City. What a victory that is for Gus Poyet and his players.
That result makes this match between Swansea and Stoke even more interesting because Stoke now have Sunderland breathing down their necks. Just two points separate the teams.
The Liberty Stadium looks pretty much packed out as we await the players in the tunnel. They should be out soon.
The pre-match rituals have been completed and it will be Stoke to kick us off at the Liberty Stadium. Here we go!
It's been a good start from the visitors, pegging Swansea back in their own half. An Ireland corner caused plenty of problems in the home side's box as both sets of players battled for the ball while it pinged around before Swansea cleared.
Swansea are now starting to get involved a bit more themselves, forcing a couple of corners. Pozuelo then forces a save from Begovic with a low strike from the edge of the area, but Stoke just about see out the danger.
A bit of concern there for Swansea as Williams went down awkwardly on his troublesome ankle. The physio came on to sort the problem, and the centre-back is back on.
GOAL! SWANSEA 0-1 STOKE (WALTERS)
We have our first goal of the afternoon and it comes from Jonathan Walters of Stoke! He showed great persistence to run past a couple of Swansea defenders before staying composed and sliding the ball past Tremmel. What a day it is for Walters as he celebrates his 100th consecutive start for Stoke in the Premier League.
It's fair to say that Walters's early goal has dampened the atmosphere inside the Liberty Stadium. The Swans are yet to get going in this match. Meanwhile, Stoke are looking calm and confident.
As you might imagine, there have already been a few robust challenges in this game. There are plenty of players out there who aren't afraid of mixing it up, and we've already seen some hard tackling.
CHANCE! Swansea should be level! Pozuelo's cross is met by the head of Lamah, but he somehow directs his effort straight at Begovic from about five yards. What a glorious opportunity for the hosts to hit back almost instantly.
The passing is all very nice from Swansea at the moment, though they're struggling to break Stoke down. The visitors are packing men behind the ball after taking an early lead. The Swans might need to be a bit patient this afternoon against such stubborn opposition.
A bit of a nervy moment inside the Stoke penalty area as De Guzman's free kick is whipped in towards the back post. However, Begovic stands his ground and sees the ball drift out of play.
Stoke are doing a good job of stifling Swansea and forcing them into errors. Whenever the home side are on the ball there are opposition shirts around instantly trying to hustle them off the ball. It seems to be working so far.
CHANCE! Close for Swansea as the ball finds its way to Bony inside the area, but the striker can only blast an instinctive volley wide of goal.
GOAL! SWANSEA 0-2 STOKE (IRELAND)
What a goal that is as Stoke increase their lead! Steven Ireland has it after some wonderfully quick and incisive passing from Walters and Crouch allowed him to run into the area and fire past Tremmel. The Potters are flying!
The difference at the moment is quite simple: Stoke have been more clinical in their finishing than Swansea. The hosts have had their chances, but some poor finishing has seen them fall behind.
Stoke are currently looking very dangerous in the final third as they slice Swansea open. Some of the passing from the visitors so far has been very impressive indeed.
What a hilarious piece of acting from Chico Flores. Both sets of players come together after a tussle between Bony and Nzonzi before Chico goes down after being brushed across the face by Nzonzi. The referee is not having any of it though and books the Spaniard.
YELLOW CARD: Another booking now, this time for Robert Huth. The Stoke centre-back is rightly punished after bringing down Pozuelo with Swansea on the attack.
CHANCE! Swansea are almost gifted a goal as Pieters gives the ball straight to Bony, but the striker is denied by Begovic as he tries to round the Stoke goalkeeper. Pozuelo then has a crack at goal which Begovic deals with again. Great goalkeeping by the big Bosnian.
Credit to Swansea, they're pushing hard for a goal to get them back into the match as half time approaches. Chico rises highest to a corner, only to head the ball harmlessly wide of Begovic's right post.
Three minutes added time at the end of this half.
HALF TIME: SWANSEA 0-2 STOKE
The half-time whistle goes and there are boos around the Liberty Stadium as Swansea find themselves 2-0 down to Stoke. Jonathan Walters got the opening goal with just seven minutes on the block before Steven Ireland doubled their advantage midway through the half.
You have to say that Stoke deserve their lead. The Potters have been more clinical in the final third, while Swansea's finishing has been woeful.
Wilfried Bony has had a few sniffs of goal, though it's just not working for him at the moment.
In case you've missed any of the football from earlier today, it's been a good afternoon for clubs in the North East. Newcastle United earned a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the day before Sunderland shocked Manchester City 1-0 yet again at the Stadium of Light.
There's also a rather big match going on at Old Trafford right now as Manchester United take on Arsenal. It's gone the way of the home side so far, with Robin van Persie giving the champions the lead against his former club.
Anyway, the players are back out at the Liberty Stadium and it will be Swansea to kick us off for the second half. No changes for either side at the break.
It's been an even start to the second half so far, with both teams looking to attack whenever they're on the ball. However, Swansea's passing is already a bit slack, much like the first half.
This game is being played at a frantic pace now. It's all end-to-end stuff as both sides burst forward in search of the next goal. Palacios is currently down for the visitors with an injury, but it looks like he'll be okay.
SUBSTITUTION: Changes for Swansea and Stoke here.
Nathan Dyer replaces Roland Lamah for the hosts, while Marko Arnautovic comes off for Matthew Etherington for the visitors.
GOAL! SWANSEA 1-2 STOKE (BONY)
Game on! Swansea have a lifeline thanks to Wilfried Bony's header from De Guzman's precise cross. A simple goal, but the hosts won't mind a jot as they give themselves something to work with.
The whole mood has changed inside the Liberty Stadium thanks to that goal from Bony. The home fans are fully behind their team now as they push for an equaliser. The Swans have cranked the pressure up on Stoke, who are pinned back in their own half at the moment. Meanwhile, Ashley Williams goes into the book for clattering into Walters. A bit of a harsh decision from the referee.
CHANCE! Close again for Swansea! The ball was played into the box by Routledge, but Bony's clever flick towards goal was snuffed out by Huth. Swansea get a corner out of it, but they fail to do anything purposeful.
Stoke have their back to the walls at the minute, being limited to counter-attacks and rare breaks. Meanwhile, Swansea are putting a lot of pressure on their opponents.
SUBSTITUTION: A second change for Swansea here as Jonjo Shelvey is brought on in place of Jonathan de Guzman. Stoke also make a couple of changes as
Charlie Adam and Marc Wilson come on for Wilson Palacios and Steven Ireland.
Stoke are defending for their lives at the moment. Wave after wave of Swansea attack is coming at them, but they're just about holding on. It's going to be a nervy final 20-odd minutes for Mark Hughes's men.
GOAL! SWANSEA 2-2 STOKE (DYER)
Swansea have got themselves level and it the substitute Nathan Dyer with the goal! Stoke failed to clear a Routledge cross, allowing Dyer to scuff the ball past Begovic and send the Liberty Stadium wild.
You have to say that if anyone is going to win this game now then it's Swansea. The visitors have looked like a changed team in this second half compared to their slow, turgid performance during the opening 45 minutes.
YELLOW CARD: Stoke's Charlie Adam is the latest player to go into the book, this time for a little kick out at Shevley.
YELLOW CARD: Both sets of players have yet another tussle amongst themselves, and Angel Rangel gets a caution for a little pushing and shoving with Peter Crouch. Under 10 minutes of normal time left.
Neither side appears happy to settle for a point right now. It remains end to end as both teams go in search of the three points. Is there going to be late drama? This game has had nearly everything else...
GOAL! SWANSEA 3-2 STOKE (BONY)
What was I just saying? Swansea have quite possibly won this match thanks to another goal from Bony. The striker peeled off his defender before buring Shelvey's cross into the bottom corner from 12 yards. What a turnaround!
There will be FIVE minutes of added time. Can Stoke salvage something?
YELLOW CARDS: Yet more nonsense between both sets of players as Asmir Begovic, Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer all go into the book for handbags.
SUBSTITUTION: Here comes Swansea's final change as Alejandro Pozuelo is replaced by Jose Canas.
PENALTY TO STOKE!
Incredible scenes as Stoke are awarded a late penalty after an alleged handball by Routledge. That is a harsh decision indeed. Very generous from the referee.
GOAL! SWANSEA 3-3 STOKE (ADAM, PEN)
Wow. Just wow. Charlie Adam steps up and confidently smashes the penalty past Tremmel to give Stoke a probable share of the spoils. What a match this has been.
FULL TIME: SWANSEA 3-3 STOKE
The full-time whistle goes and it is all square between Swansea and Stoke as they play out a thrilling 3-3 draw. That game had almost everything.
The full-time whistle has also gone at Old Trafford and Manchester United have earned a big 1-0 win over Arsenal thanks to a Robin van Persie header. Anyway, that's all from me for now but don't forget that you can keep up to date with all of the reaction from today's games in the Premier League right here on Sports Mole. Thank you very much for your company and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!