news-engine

- - Sport - Football - Swansea City FC Sub Idah hands Swansea City rare win at Stoke City on opening day Swansea came from behind to claim a 2-1 win over Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium Adam Idah came off the bench to net a winner with his first touch and ensure Swansea City began the new Championship campaign with a rare win at Stoke City. Eric Bocat put the hosts in front on 10 minutes, a goal that arguably came against the run of play following a bright start from the Swans. However, Joseph Opoku levelled with a cool finish midway inside the first half, before Idah popped up just after the hour to steer home what proved to be the winner. Swansea had previously won just once in their last 15 outings at the bet365 Stadium, but the travelling Jack Army will have had plenty to celebrate here following a performance that contained plenty of positives. Star striker Zan Vipotnik started from the off here, as Matos made three changes from the side that narrowly lost to Birmingham City in the Carabao Cup last weekend. However, the Slovenian was upstaged by substitute Idah, whose match-winning cameo may ease any concerns around what life may look like for City should Vipotnik depart in this window. Swansea might well have felt hard done by to fall behind, but Bocat was on hand to punish some sloppy defending after Tomas Rigo had beaten the offside trap before teeing up the Frenchman to score. Wales international Sorba Thomas also had a sight at goal, but sent a lobbed effort well over the bar after being played in by former Swansea hero Ethan Galbraith, who predictably received a frosty reception from the travelling Jack Army. However, Swansea restored parity after a well-taken leveller from summer signing Opoku, who was on hand after Vipotnik had flicked Moussa Yeo's ball across goal. Marko Stamenic then headed an effort straight at goalkeeper Viktor Johansson as Swansea continued to ask questions of the Stoke defence. Bosun Lawal headed a wayward effort well over the bar for the hosts just before half-time, but Swansea will otherwise have been pretty pleased with their efforts in the opening 45 minutes. Lawrence Vigouroux did well to prevent Stoke retaking the lead just before the hour, tipping over a crashing drive from Thomas on the edge of the area. And that save was rewarded just after the hour, with Idah tucking home just seconds after coming off the bench. A well-weighted pass from Jay Fulton found Josh Tymon down the left, and his low ball was turned in by the Irishman. Opening goalscorer Opoku fired high and wide from distance as the contest ticked into the last 10 minutes, while substitute Eom Jisung forced a save from Johansson after a smart volley at the far post from Tymon's cross. Vigouroux was tested at the other end late on, getting down well to deny Bocat with a smart save, but Swansea held on for what was a thoroughly deserved three points. Stoke City: Johansson; Wilmot, Lawal (Talovierov 46), Graham, Bocat; Galbraith, Ingelsson (Soumare 70); Manhoef, Rigo (Junho 70), Thomas; Gallagher (Bozebnik 70) Subs: Griffiths, Gibson, Anderson, Pearson, Martin Swansea City: Vigouroux; Lissah (Key 56), Cabango, Welsh, Tymon; Stamenic, Fulton (Walta 84); Yeo (Widell 65), Just (Eom 65), Opoku; Vipotnik (Idah 65) Subs: Fisher, Parente, Ronald, Heywood *Follow all of our social channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Swans news. Sign up to our daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here. Our Swansea City correspondent Tom Coleman is also on social media. He can be found on his X account here, on Instagram, on TikTok and on Facebook. Key Events Swansea City have actually won a game of association football at Stoke City. Great start to the season for Vitor Matos and his team. Bozenik steers the ball well over the bar from a teasing Thomas cross. 1-2 Four minutes added on here. Widell is the next man in the book after giving away a freekick just inside his own half. 1-2. Bocat is forced out wide but he still manages to get a shot away. Saved by Vigouroux at the near post. 1-2. Walta replaces Fulton, who's been really good today. 1-2. Forces a save after guiding a far-post volley into the palm of Johansson following a lovely cross from Key. All Swansea at the moment. 1-2. Opoku goes for glory from distance, but it's a couple of feet over the bar. 1-2. Eom's corner is cleared away. 1-2. Lovely stuff from Widell to hold the ball up on the edge of the area. Eom picks out Tymon on the overlap and he wins a corner. 1-2. Eom dinks an inviting ball in for Idah, but he can't quite connect. 1-2. Soumare on for Ingelsson. Bae on for Rigo. Bozenik on for Gallagher. 1-2 IDAH WITH HIS FIRST TOUCH! Lovely pass again from Fulton allows Tymon to get a low cross away from the left, and Idah is there to turn the ball home from close range. Swansea in front. 1-2. Eom, Widell and Idah coming on. Just, Vipotnik and Yeo making way. 1-1 Stoke the ones doing all the probing here as we tick over the hour mark. Just sends a long ball down the right looing for Opoku, but Graham cuts it out. Swansea just need a spell of possession to maybe settle back down because right now it's Stoke who look the more likely. 1-1 Thomas cuts inside from the fright. Dances past Cabango and the Welsh before crashing in a drive. Tipped over by the Swans keeper. 1-1. Manhoef wriggles away from his man and whips in a cross. Welsh gets up to head the ball away from Gallagher. 1-1 Key on for Lissah. 1-1 Gets a cross away after getting into a good position, but the quality is poor. 1-1 Can have few complaints with that. Blatantly holds back Thomas as he looks to get away. There's a slight coming together of heads between Lissah and Ingelsson as they exchange their opinions on things. Lissah has to be more careful there. 1-1 Good play from Just, who slips Vipotnik into the area. Gets to the byline and looks to dart the ball across goal, but it's smothered by the keeper. 1-1. Corner doesn't beat the first and Swans clear. 1-1. Manhoef looks to power his way through the Swans defence, but Cabango does really well to force him out wide, before his shot eventually cannons off the Wales international for a corner. 1-1. Vipotnik looks to fire in an effort near the edge of the box. Powered into Ingelsson. 1-1. Stoke forced into a change as Lawal is replaced by Talovierov That's the end of the first half. Four minutes added on here. Lawal, for now, is going to continue. 1-1. Has pulled up after going up for a header. Looks like it might be a groin injury. Not sure he'll be able to continue here. Both sets of players taking on some hydration as he receives treatment. 1-1 Another setpiece for Swansea to defend. This time Lawal gets behind the line to get his head on a deep freekick. Headed well over the bar. 1-1