Stoke City won their third consecutive Premier League game, as Wilfried Bony once again came back to haunt Swansea City, bagging twice in a 3-1 win for the Potters.

The Ivorian scored after three minutes from Joe Allen’s assist put Stoke in the lead. The Welsh side hit back five minutes later, equalising through Wayne Routledge. Gylfi Sigurdsson dribbled into traffic, wrapped his foot around a perfect cross and the winger was able to head home.

Stoke regained the lead 10 minutes into the second half. Ramadan Sobhi twisted and turned before his cross was turned into his own net by Alfie Mawson. Bony then doubled his tally, Lukasz Fabianski first denied Allen before the Ivorian headed home the rebound.

A fair first half contest

After just three minutes, Swansea conceded from yet another corner as old boys Allen and Bony linked to send Stoke fans wild on Halloween.

There was just a Ryan Shawcross free header between the goals, which was well saved by Fabianski in net.

Routledge was on hand to wipe the smirk off Stoke fans, using his strength well against Phil Bardsley after Sigurdsson’s inch-perfect cross made sure Lee Grant had to stay on his line before picking the ball out from the back of the net.

The next 20 minutes didn’t live up to the hype that the first 10 gave, although Charlie Adam did strike the post for the first time this evening.

Sigurdsson then had two half chances to score, but failed, before Adam hit the post again with a curling shot from 18 yards after intercepting Kyle Naughton’s clearance.

Swansea were on the ropes, as Stoke hit the woodwork for the third time in the same half. Marko Arnautovic rounded Fabianski after going through on goal, but couldn’t hit the target.

This is the first time a Premier League side has hit the woodwork three times in the same half since Tottenham Hotspur vs Blackburn Rovers in April 2012.

Swansea had two chances to take the lead before the half time whistle, with Routledge and Modou Barrow going close but not enough to get past Grant.

Stoke took charge in the second half

Three minutes after the interval, Bony could have had a second after Arnautovic in acres of space in the box found the striker, but his shot was blazed over the bar.

Stoke started the better side in the second half, as the ball found its way to Shawcross in the box from a corner but the centre-half wasn’t able to find the target.

The third goal was an unfortunate one for young Mawson. On his second Premier League appearance he was unable to wrap his foot around the ball when he tried to clear Sobhi’s cross-cum-shot.

Mawson generally played quite well, but will undoubtedly be upset with himself for the own goal.

Swansea have now conceded either two goals or more in four of their last five games, and there’s definitely an Ashley Williams-sized hole in that defence.

Swansea then spurned a good chance, as Angel Rangel fed Routledge on the right, Borja Baston was free inside the area but Routledge couldn’t find him after good defending from Shawcross.

Bony then rounded off the scoreline, heading home after Fabianski saved Allen’s effort. Allen himself didn’t celebrate the goal, but Bony did plenty.

Bony was unable to score in his first seven games for Stoke, but was able to find the back of the net twice against his former club.

Before this evening, Bony’s last goal also came against Swansea for Manchester City. Four of his eight Premier League goals since leaving Swansea have come against the Welsh side.

Swansea did attempt to stage a comeback, as Baston’s deflected shot hit the bar just before Bony was denied a hat-trick as he was substituted off for Jonathan Walters.

The away side arguably should have had a penalty late on too, Erik Pieters started fouling Routledge outside the box, then continued inside. Referee Michael Oliver gave Swansea a free kick.

The result moves Stoke up to 12th in the table, while Swansea stay sat in 19th.

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Jack Mceachen
Sports Journalist in Staffordshire University.