Official Boothen Roar Match Preview: Swansea v Stoke City

Last updated : 01 October 2011 By Dan Buxton

The Potters travel to The Liberty Stadium on Sunday looking to extend their seasons run to eight wins and just one defeat in thirteen games. 

Stoke finished last campaign in 13th place, whilst Swansea finished got promoted to the top flight after winning the Championship play offs. City have had three wins and two draws away from home so far this season whereas Swansea are in 16th position and have just five points and four goals from six games this season.

Stoke have already beaten West Brom, Hajduk Split and FC Thun on their travels this campaign but last term only beat West Brom, Blackburn and Newcastle away from home in the league and lost 13 times aswell with all those victories came before Christmas. Swansea have so far drew two games 0-0 and beat West Brom 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium.

The sides have met 30 times in South Wales, with 14 home wins, 6 Potters victories and 10 draws. The last meeting at Swansea, 11 years ago almost to the day, saw the hosts run out 2-1 winners. In the 56 matches between these sides, the Potters have won 20, the Whites 18 times and eighteen have been drawn. 

The referee is Mike Jones. He reffed Stoke four times last season a 2-1 home win against West Ham in the FA cup quarter finals, a 2-1 defeat of Newcastle, 2-0 win away at Blackburn and a 2-2 draw away at Wigan. He hasn't refereed Swansea since his promotion to the elite list.

The Met Office report that there will be sunny skies, temperatures of a warm 21 degrees celsius, good visibility but a weak 6mph wind.

Prediction: The Potters start well and go one up before the break through Crouch before seeing out the game after the break