Super-sub Adam Idah snatched the winner with his first touch of the game as Swansea bravely battled back from a goal down to stun Stoke 2-1.<\/p>\n
The Republic of Ireland international had been on the pitch for barely a minute when he scored in the 66th minute as the Swans claimed their first win at the bet365 Stadium for over five years.<\/p>\n
Defeat was a bitter bill to swallow for the Potters, especially after Eric Bocat had fired them into a 10th-minute lead.<\/p>\n
The defender grabbed his first goal for the club on his 60th league appearance with a deflected left-foot strike.<\/p>\n
But Nigeria international midfielder Joseph Opoku snatched a 23rd-minute equaliser for the Swans, powering in with a sweet right-foot shot after some poor defending.<\/p>\n
![\"Zan](\"https:\/\/e0.365dm.com\/26\/08\/768x432\/skysports-zan-vipotnik-bosun-lawal_7322649.jpg?20260815170222\")
\n <\/div>\n Zan Vipotnik of Swansea City is challenged by Bosun Lawal of Stoke City
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\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
And the hosts’ frustrating afternoon went from bad to worse when Idah won it with a smart close-range finish after more questionable defending.<\/p>\n
The home side made the best possible start when left-back Bocat fired them ahead.<\/p>\n
Svante Ingelsson whipped the ball in from the left wing, Tomas Rigo collected and teed up Bocat who, having turned his marker, unleashed a left-foot shot which was deflected over goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux and into the far corner.<\/p>\n
But it was not long before the visitors were back on level terms when Opoku took advantage of sloppy defending by the Potters.<\/p>\n
Moussa Yeo crossed from the left, Zan Vipotnik got an important flick-on and there was Opoku, unmarked at the back post, to fire home with ease.<\/p>\n
Goalscorer Boucat was nowhere to be seen as the 21-year-old summer signing gladly notched his first goal for his new club.<\/p>\n
Seven minutes before the break Bosun Lawal attacked a ball at the back post but his header flew high and wide.<\/p>\n
Stoke boss Mark Robins made a change at the break with Maksym Talovierov brought on to replace Lawal.<\/p>\n
And the hosts started brightly and came within a whisker of scoring a second, but an alert Vigouroux thwarted them with a brilliant save.<\/p>\n
Sorba Thomas weaved his way into the box and looked certain to score, but Vigouroux tipped his thunderbolt shot over the crossbar.<\/p>\n
That save proved hugely important as the Swans broke on the counter-attack and Idah slotted home with his first touch.<\/p>\n
Josh Tymon’s cross evaded everyone as the hosts were again caught sleeping and Idah gleefully netted his first goal of the season.<\/p>\n
Bocat had a chance to level with six minutes remaining, but his low left-foot drive was saved well by Vigouroux at his near post.<\/p>\n
The managers<\/h3>\n
Stoke’s Mark Robins:<\/em><\/p>\n “We turned the ball over too many times, but we still carried a threat. If we do the basics right then we win that game.<\/p>\n “The real start was today and we needed to be better in those big moments, We had a golden opportunity to score, he (Thomas) just needed to roll it into the net.<\/p>\n “It’s a massively disappointing result. We need some players in, but the owners are backing us to the hilt.<\/p>\n “We can’t make mistakes like we made though, but we know we’ve got to get it right. We need to make sure we get those players in who are going to make a difference.<\/p>\n “We have to be better and having some much-needed quality will be welcome. It’s all about players, they make the difference. It was a really disappointing result, even though we had some good opportunities.”<\/p>\n Swansea’s Vitor Matos:<\/em><\/p>\n “Sometimes we are lucky with substitutions. It’s not always perfect, but today they came and impacted the game and I’m really pleased with that.<\/p>\n “I think it’s always about mindset and about mentality on these moments and they were brilliant, all the players coming from the bench and finding a way into the game and to impact that as well.<\/p>\n “I felt the game needed a bit more physicality in the final third and Adam (Idah) is a player who can offer that.<\/p>\n “Our goals showed the identity we want to keep building. I think it was a good game from our side.<\/p>\n “We started well. Stoke are really competitive and it’s really hard to come here to play. So on the first situation, they could break our press, they score.<\/p>\n “Then we needed to find a way to grab the game back to us, to put the game where normally we are stronger, we were able to do that, score the equaliser.”<\/p>\nWhat the result means and next fixtures…<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n