Premier League preview: Stoke City v Swansea

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis believes his side need some luck to pick up their first win of the season ahead of their clash with Swansea.

Pulis’ team have four draws and a loss from the opening five rounds of the English Premier League season and, having gone ahead in 1-1 stalemates with Reading in the first round and last week against Manchester City, Stoke’s manager wants a change of fortune.

Swansea are Stoke’s next opponents and Pulis believes some good luck on Sunday could lead to his team’s opening win of the season and a shift in momentum.

“Although the performances have been good so far, we haven’t had that little bit of luck,” Pulis said.

“But if we keep working hard, it will change for us.”

Swansea will head to Stoke on the back of a disappointing 3-0 defeat at home against Everton and then a late comeback victory in the League Cup whey they defeated Crawley Town 3-2.

While Swansea have been kept goalless in their past two Premier League fixtures, their three goals in the League Cup should give them confidence of taking a win home from Stoke.

Regular starters Michu and Danny Graham both scored for Swansea in the win versus Crawley and with their hosts on Sunday struggling to hit the back of the net, the Welsh club may have too much firepower.

Michu has been a great signing for Swansea manager Michael Laudrup with the 26-year-old Spanish attacking midfielder having scored four goals in five league matches since signing from Rayo Vallecano.

Stoke have conceded five goals this season and scored just four.

While Pulis generally starts Jonathan Walters in behind Peter Crouch as his two forwards, Stoke’s manager may need to try something different against Swansea to notch a victory.

New signing Michael Owen, who came off the bench against Chelsea last week, could be an option to link up with former England team-mate Crouch, while Charlie Adam offers a different kind of a threat as an attacking midfielder.

Laudrup’s main dilemma will be who to play in midfield after new signings Pablo Hernandez and Ki Sung-Yong were unimpressive against Everton and then Leon Britton, who was a favourite under former manager Brendan Rodgers, put in a good shift in the win over Crawley.

Hernandez picked up a knock to his knee versus Everton, meaning he was not available of the League Cup tie, but Laudrup remains confident the 27-year-old Spaniard will be available for the trip to Stoke.