Another frustrating night for Swansea City as their opponents Stoke City had more desire and more energy to take the points at the Swansea.Com stadium.

The Russell Martin revolution spun out of control in the first half and continued fir much of the game as Jamal Lowe gave the ball away persistently up front in a lack lustre swans display.,Stoke though had done their homework and pressurised the swans defensive set up exposing some worrying frailties. Stoke’s intention was very clear from the off, closing down and not giving any swans player a moment to think, let alone pass to another white shirt. Steven Benda gave us another example of his now ‘crazy ten seconds of goalkeeping madness’ but managed to prevent an early Stoke goal. The pressure tactics worked on three occasions before Stoke City scored the first goal of the evening, Nick Powell connecting with his head after a straight forward free kick taken out on the Swansea left. Defensively at the set piece everyone froze except Powell who really couldn’t miss.

It was thoroughly deserved for all the potters hard work.

That did spark the swans in to some form of attacking sense, unfortunately the non availability of a player to take possession of all the work done was more than evident. Stoke had cleverly set up defensively as well as in midfield, well marshalled by Joe Allen. There was a lot of huff and puff from the home side, and at times the passing was very pleasing to see, but it was going nowhere. The big question has to be have the swans got the players of the ability required to carry out Russell Martin’s wishes. It was answered as the half progressed, again dominating possession the final pass or attacking intent was lacking. Misplaced passes were noticeable.

Then Russell Martin on thirty seven minutes brought on Joel Piroe for Jan Dhanda. Dhanda had been having a decent but ineffective game, he looked bright but was the sacrifice that had to be made if the swans were to get back in the game. He looked slightly shocked at his substitution. Any long ball was easily dealt with by Stoke and any passing movement by the swans of which there were many were dealt with easily as well. Jake Bidwell looked the most effective out on the left side of the Swansea set up. Twice he got in decent attacking positions, and twice he was marshalled out of a goal scoring position.

As the half came to a close Swansea looked more dominant, the passing again pleasing with Jay Fulton adding a bit of grit to the midfield. A late chance saw Jamal Lowe fail to take advantage of a flick from Piroe. On the break and within seconds Stoke nearly doubled their lead. Mixing up the play the swans punted a high ball forwards resulting in a corner, which came to nothing. It was frustrating but there were passages of play involving Grimes and Downes which gave some hope of at least something.

The second half started much the same as the first half ended. Swansea City over playing and as expected eventually losing the ball on the break. A slide rule pass by Joe Allen saw Sam Surridge clear in the swans area and he stroked the ball home. His celebration earned him a yellow card. At 2-0 the swans persisted in their possession game but again and again the ball was given away. Jamal Lowe had the first real opportunity of the game for the swans on 57 minutes but his shot was easily saved. Stoke continued to break up play and a wicked cross box ball from Stoke’s Brown was missed by inches as Allen slid across the area.

That prompted Martin to bring off Fulton and Latibeaudiere for debutant Ethan Laird and the recently arrived Jamie Paterson. As soon as the subs came on Stoke struck again from a corner out on the swans left. Taken by Clucas in to a packed area the rebound off the post was hammered home by Ostigard. There is a real problem with these tactics. Persistently giving the ball away is one issue, but every time the ball went forwards Piroe and especially Lowe showed no desire whatsoever to pressure the keeper or the potters defence. Their contribution required more effort and more pressure, but they looked completely lost.

Frustratingly when in prime positions to play the ball forwards Grimes and Downes chose risk free passes, slowing the play down and causing moans and groans in the crowd. Stoke on the other hand were quick and always snapping at the swans heels. How Swansea thought that their slow and mundane passing was ever going to make an impression on the game.

Ethan Laird did get forwards minutes after coming on and his cross box pass went nowhere near any of the three swans players waiting for a better pass. It was typical of the night, poor passing, poor decision making, and too much reliance on defensive possession all over the pitch.

It’s hard to recall a time when a Swansea player tried to get past his marker, walking in to danger and giving the ball away, the performance was so poor as the 70th minute arrived it became embarrassing. There seemed to be no desire or idea what to do in this situation. After a nineteen pass move by Stoke with Swansea players glued to the floor Surridge saw his shot saved by Benda. Brandon Cooper was isolated on so many occasions his overall demeanour displayed a hopeless cause. A man with nothing to hope for, and performances like this will either make or break him.

However, persistence and patience are two words Russell Martin uses a lot.

Swansea had little to shout about until Bidwell was found out in the left side of the pitch and Piroe headed his first league goal for the club. The goal came from a slow swans build up this time with Stoke ball watching as Piroe guided his header to the keepers left. Bidwell’s cross was superb. Laird actually took on the Stoke defence on 74 minutes, an infield pass to Piroe saw his shot headed clear with the Stoke keeper stranded. The swans pressed on winning possession at last positively in midfield. The build ups were slow and precise, but offered some hope.

A corner from Grimes was met by a defensive header from Stoke sub Fletcher, and so the pressure increased on the potters. They didn’t seem too perturbed though. Long punts clear by Souttar and Wilmot, one of which was taken down by Piroe but his goal bound shot hit Jamal Lowe and ended up in Stoke’s possession. The issue again became the effort the swans front men were putting on the Stoke defence. More lapsidasical than signalling any real intent. Jamal Lowe again found himself out thought by Harry Souttar, and his ability was again called in to question as he weakly failed to create anything.

It was the story of his night.

Stoke City resorted to their usual time wasting tactics in the final minutes, dropping to the floor at every opportunity. It all seemed too much for the swans, Stoke resorting to long punts out of defence as the swans responded with slow build ups. Yes, the midfield was dominated by white shirts but passes forwards were eaten up by the Stoke defence. Late pressure saw Piroe flash a header across the keepers path, Laird picked the ball up but again Stoke scrambled the ball away.

Even in the closing minutes of injury time the swans seemed completely oblivious to the task at hand, with little or no urgency and wasted passing. It’s testament to Russell Martin’s philosophy that the swans just kept slowly plugging away. The ineffective cutting edge of the home side was there for all to see, as was the positivity of new boy Ethan Laird. That was something at least to give swans fans some hope.

The scenario tonight was set from the off. Stoke wanted the points more, they were well set up and had the ability and endeavour to do so. Swansea were too slow, too thoughtful and far too ponderous, every time they won the ball it was soon given away. Every opportunity to increase the pace of an attack was slowed down by a negative midfield, and every move forwards seemed to end up back with Cabango or Cooper to try and get something from the game.

This will give Russell Martin much to think about until his side arrive at Ashton Gate on Friday night. This ponderous play won’t win many games, and it won’t earn him many plaudits. It obviously works great with pace and commitment, but sadly Swansea City have nothing even close to implement his game plans.

And with one point from nine that first win seems as far away as ever.

Swansea City: Benda; Cabango, B Cooper, Manning; Latibeaudiere (Laird 58), Downes, Fulton (Paterson 58), Grimes (C), Bidwell; Dhanda (Piroe 38), Lowe.

Subs not used: Webb, Whittaker, Cullen, D Williams.

Goal: Piroe 73

Stoke City: Bursik; Smith, Tymon, Wilmot; Souttar, Ostigard, Allen (C), Powell (Thompson 50), Clucas; Surridge (Fletcher 74), Brown.

Subs not used: Davies, Fox, Batth, Doughty, Ince.

Goals: Powell 15, Clucas 52, Ostigard 60

Yellow cards: Clucas 53, Tymon 81

Referee: Joshua Smith

Attendance: 15,927

Photographs Swansea City AFC

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