Premier League: Swansea 2 Stoke 0

Goals from Scott Sinclair and Danny Graham helped Swansea beat Stoke 2-0 at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.

The game was a scrappy affair on the whole with referee Mike Jones booking eight players.

Swansea started brightly as they passed their way around the field and took the lead inside the first 10 minutes.

Joe Allen surged through midfield and played Wayne Routledge into the box, only for the Swans debutant to be upended by Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross.

Referee Jones had no option but to give a penalty and Sinclair coolly tucked away the spot kick to hand Brendan Rodgers’ side the lead.

It had been nothing more than the Swans deserved for their bright start and it seemed to shock Stoke into life, with Jermaine Pennant spurning a good chance for the visitors when he struck a free kick from a good position straight into the wall.

Stoke began to impose themselves on the game more, playing mainly through Peter Crouch and Pennant, who was just unable to find a final ball good enough to trouble Williams and Monk at the back for Swansea.

The Potters came close to equalising on 20 minutes as Walters picked up the ball in midfield and unleashed a long-range effort which Michel Vorm did magnificently well to tip onto the crossbar.

Stoke’s challenge fizzled out as the half went on, their only remaining chance saw Rory Delap fire high and wide from 20 yards.

The Potters’ physical approach to the match also began to boil over as Wilkinson and Crouch both picked up bookings for poorly timed challenges on Dyer and Gower respectively.

Swansea started the second half much as they started the first, Dyer, Sinclair and Routledge all using their pace to worry Stoke’s physical backline.

Graham headed over from Sinclair’s corner as his search for a first goal for the Welsh team continued.

The yellow cards also continued to come as Delap, Gower and Taylor all went into referee Jones’ notebook in quick succession.

Tony Pulis’ side were still looking for an equaliser and came as close when Glenn Whelan struck a curling free-kick into the upright.

The game was beginning to open up and Crouch’s flick on found Walters who turned brilliantly into the box but saw Ashley Williams block his effort.

The Swans then finally managed to wrap up the game, Whelan gave the ball away in midfield and Graham pounced, surging past the defence and slotting a neat finish past Asmir Begovic.