The hosts are looking for a third league win in a row as they welcome the struggling Swans to the Bet365 Stadium.
Stoke City’s Joe Allen celebrates with Ryan Shawcross
It has been a season of two halves for Stoke City so far. A draw on the opening day was followed by four straight defeats that left them in the bottom three, but a recent revival means they are on a four match unbeaten streak heading into their clash with Swansea on Monday night.
How the Swans could do with such an upturn in fortunes. Winless since the opening day, Bob Bradley picked up his first point as Swansea manager in the goalless draw with Watford last weekend but his side sit second bottom and are in need of a result.
Swansea City manager Bob Bradley
The Key Battle – Joe Allen v Gylfi Sigurdsson
The former Swan has been a revelation in Stoke colours and leads the Potters scoring charts with four goals – that’s four more than another man once of Swansea’s parish, Wilfried Bony, who has struggled since leaving the Liberty Stadium in January 2015.
Allen is in for a tough encounter in the centre of the park on Monday, with Swansea playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson looking to provide the quality required to help his side climb away from trouble.
Swansea City’s Gylfi Sigurdsson
Last Meeting:
An inspired comeback saw the Welsh side claim a point when these two teams last faced each other, with late goals from Sigurdsson and Alberto Paloschi helping Swansea earn a share of the spoils having been two goals down.
Overall, Stoke have the edge in this fixture with 24 wins to Swansea’s 21.
Recent league form – most recent last:
Stoke – LLDDWW
Swansea – DLLLLD
Who’s the ref?
Michael Oliver is Monday night’s referee.
The 31-year-old has taken charge of each of these sides once already this season – Oliver took in Stoke’s 1-0 defeat at Everton in August and Swansea’s 2-1 reverse at home to Liverpool in early October.
Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross in action with Everton’s Romelu Lukaku
What time is kick off?
The match starts at 8pm.
Where can I watch it?
Sky Sports 1 are showing this match. Coverage beginning at 7pm on Monday Night Football, which includes analysis of the weekend’s matches.
Odds
Stoke – Evens
Draw – 13/5
Swansea – 13/5
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