Football League World
·5 October 2024
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·5 October 2024
FLW report live from the Swansea.com Stadium as Swansea City host Stoke City in the Championship
Swansea City were held to a 0-0 draw by Stoke City at the Swansea.com Stadium in what was a entertaining encounter despite the lack of goals.
The Swans had more chances to nick a goal, particularly during the first half, but the best chance of the game arguably fell to Stoke's Tom Cannon in the second half when he was sent through on goal but was denied by Lawrence Vigouroux.
The result means that Swansea are still unbeaten at home in the league this season, but they're now three games without a win following a draw to Bristol City and a defeat to Sheffield United in the last week.
Swansea nearly took the lead after just three minutes when the ball broke to Ronald but Viktor Johansson in the Stoke goal got down low to make an excellent save to keep things level.
It was a lively opening ten minutes and Stoke saw appeals for a penalty waved away when Lewis Koumas went down under pressure from Josh Tymon, before Ronald butchered a chance to go through on goal after a poor touch.
Johansson was forced into another save after 13 minutes, but he comfortably caught Harry Darling's headed effort from a corner, and he was forced into action by another Darling set-piece just ten minutes later, which again was dealt with comfortably.
Stoke created their first clear-cut opportunity just shy of the half-hour mark after some excellent work from Bae Junho and Eric Bocat, but Lawrence Vigouroux got down well to save Bocat's low effort.
Swansea should have made it 1-0 on 34 minutes, but Ronald pulled his shot across the face of goal from close range after Jisung Eom found him in space, letting the visitors off the hook.
It looked as if the first half was going to fizzle out, but it came to life in the latter stages, with good work from Koumas setting up Andy Moran, who saw his goalbound shot deflected wide, before Swansea hit back with a chance of their own.
Deep into added time, it looked as if Eom had broken the deadlock, but his shot hit the underside of the bar before Zan Vipotnik headed over when the ball broke to him, bringing an end to what was an entertaining first 45 despite the goalless scoreline.
Swansea began the second half as they started the first and Johansson was called into action to deny Vipotnik from breaking the deadlock with a powerful header.
It was Stoke's chance to attempt to break the deadlock soon after and Tom Cannon was sent through on goal, but Lawrence Vigouroux rushed off his line to deny him, and ensure the game remained goalless.
Stoke's Moran went into the book for a foul on Tymon, and Darling nearly broke the deadlock from the resulting free-kick, but he headed just over from Matt Grimes' delivery, letting the visitors off the hook yet again.
Cannon came close to nicking a late goal for Stoke which would have sent them home with all three points, but his shot from close range was blocked and cleared away from danger, but the visitors looked like the side most likely to score towards the end.
Stoke had complete control in the nine minutes of added time and Emre Tezgel came close to sealing all three points for the Potters, but his shot was deflected over the bar.
However, Swansea did have the final chance when Azeem Abdulai came close to connecting with a dangerous cross from Florian Bianchini, but he was unable to get his head to it, and his side had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
Lawrence Vigouroux - 9
Josh Key - 7
Ben Cabango - 7
Harry Darling - 7
Josh Tymon - 6
Goncalo Franco - 7 (Jay Fulton (83) - 6)
Matt Grimes - 6
Ollie Cooper - 6 (Myles Peart-Harris (76) - 6)
Jisung Eom - 7 (Florian Bianchini (76) - 6)
Ronald - 6 (Azeem Abdulai (76) - 6)
Zan Vipotnik - 7 (Liam Cullen (64) - 6)
Unused subs: Jon McLaughlin, Kyle Naughton, Nelson Abbey, Joe Allen.
Viktor Johansson - 9
Ben Wilmot - 7
Michael Rose - 6
Ben Gibson - 7
Eric Bocat - 8
Wouter Burger - 6 (Million Manhoef (54) - 6)
Andy Moran - 7
Bae Junho - 7 (Andre Vidigal (65) - 6)
Lewis Koumas - 7 (Jordan Thompson (54) - 6)
Sam Gallagher - 6 (Emre Tezgel (85) - 6)
Tom Cannon - 7
Unused subs: Jack Bonham, Junior Tchamadeu, Ashley Phillips, Enda Stevens, Tatsuki Seko.
Speaking to the press in the aftermath of Swansea's draw, boss Luke Williams said: "The challenge first of all was to create more big chances, and we've done that today. We created a lot of good chances, so encouraging yes.
"We're having the same talk in the changing room, so I might put the team meeting on repeat. A lot to be optimistic about, because we have to change a small amount.
"We've had three games at home which we've drawn which we should win, and we'd probably be sixth or seventh in the league if we convert those draws into victories, which we could have comfortably done."
Meanwhile, Stoke boss Narcis Pelach said: "I am pleased. I am very pleased with the performance. It's just one point I know, but the performance of the team was good, and it was difficult to put in another performance after the last win. Usually you can get a bit relaxed after winning 6-1.
"We went away to Swansea, who are a very good side. I came here with Norwich, and we lost 1-0, so I know how difficult it is with the players they have and how they play, but we tried to press and put a little effort in to try and force mistakes and to try and force the goalkeeper to put the ball in the stands.
"I think we did well for some time, but they played well and there is an opponent in front who are well-coached and have good players, but all I asked is to go into the game with a strong mentality. Maybe we could have won at the end, but it's a fair point because they had their chances as well, but we were always there."