Follow live coverage as Stoke City face Swansea City in the Championship today.
An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.
Relegation from the top flight last term means Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United are all back in the second tier this term and will be expected to push for play-off spots again at least, but so too will Norwich City, an improving Coventry and beaten play-off finalists Leeds United. At the other end of the table, Wayne Rooney is aiming to revive Plymouth’s fortunes after they narrowly avoided relegation last year, with Portsmouth and Derby the teams promoted from League One along with play-off final winners Oxford.
Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
Stoke City FC 3 - 1 Swansea City AFC
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:58Match ends, Stoke City 3, Swansea City 1.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:57Second Half ends, Stoke City 3, Swansea City 1.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:57Gonçalo Franco (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:57Goal! Stoke City 3, Swansea City 1. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) right footed shot from more than 35 yards to the bottom left corner following a fast break.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:57Foul by Joshua Key (Swansea City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:57Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:57Offside, Swansea City. Florian Bianchini is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:57Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Andrew Moran.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:57Substitution, Swansea City. Joshua Key replaces Eom Ji-Sung.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:57Attempt saved. Harry Darling (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:57Substitution, Stoke City. Josh Wilson-Esbrand replaces Jordan Thompson.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:55Substitution, Stoke City. Nathan Lowe replaces Ali Al-Hamadi.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:55Andrew Moran (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:53Lewis O'Brien (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:45Attempt saved. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:41Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:41Delay in match because of an injury Lewis Baker (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:49Attempt missed. Florian Bianchini (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:41Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Ashley Phillips.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:41Lewis Baker (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:41Josh Tymon (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:41Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:41Substitution, Stoke City. Tatsuki Seko replaces Wouter Burger.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:41Substitution, Swansea City. Harry Darling replaces Kyle Naughton.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:39Substitution, Swansea City. Jay Fulton replaces Ollie Cooper.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:39Delay in match because of an injury Wouter Burger (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:34Goal! Stoke City 2, Swansea City 1. Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Million Manhoef with a cross following a set piece situation.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:33Foul by Ronald (Swansea City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:31Attempt missed. Ben Cabango (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Eom Ji-Sung with a cross following a corner.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:30Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Junior Tchamadeu.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:38Attempt blocked. Eom Ji-Sung (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Florian Bianchini.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:30Substitution, Swansea City. Florian Bianchini replaces Liam Cullen.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:30Attempt missed. Eom Ji-Sung (Swansea City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:26Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Wouter Burger.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:25Goal! Stoke City 1, Swansea City 1. Wouter Burger (Stoke City) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lewis Baker with a cross following a set piece situation.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:24Ben Cabango (Swansea City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:24Foul by Ben Cabango (Swansea City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:22Substitution, Stoke City. Million Manhoef replaces Lewis Koumas.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:22Substitution, Stoke City. Lewis Baker replaces Ben Pearson.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:21Goal! Stoke City 0, Swansea City 1. Josh Tymon (Swansea City) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:16Foul by Ollie Cooper (Swansea City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:15Ronald (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:15Attempt saved. Ali Al-Hamadi (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:13Attempt missed. Liam Cullen (Swansea City) left footed shot from the left side of the box.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:11Foul by Lewis Koumas (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:11Ronald (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:11Offside, Swansea City. Ronald is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:10Lewis O'Brien (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:09Lewis O'Brien (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:07Offside, Swansea City. Josh Tymon is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
16:06Second Half begins Stoke City 0, Swansea City 0.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:49First Half ends, Stoke City 0, Swansea City 0.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:49Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:49Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:49Delay in match because of an injury Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:42Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Jordan Thompson.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:42Ben Pearson (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:42Lewis O'Brien (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:40Ronald (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:40Foul by Ollie Cooper (Swansea City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:37Kyle Naughton (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:37Attempt missed. Liam Cullen (Swansea City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a fast break.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:36Foul by Ashley Phillips (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:29Foul by Eom Ji-Sung (Swansea City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:27Attempt blocked. Ashley Phillips (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Thompson with a cross.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:24Foul by Ben Cabango (Swansea City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:22Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Hannes Delcroix.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:22Ollie Cooper (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:22Josh Tymon (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:22Gonçalo Franco (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:20Eom Ji-Sung (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:17Attempt missed. Wouter Burger (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:16Foul by Lewis Koumas (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:13Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Michael Rose.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:13Ollie Cooper (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:13Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Jordan Thompson.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:13Eom Ji-Sung (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:09Offside, Swansea City. Ollie Cooper is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:07Foul by Lewis O'Brien (Swansea City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:02Foul by Wouter Burger (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:02Attempt missed. Ali Al-Hamadi (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Junior Tchamadeu with a cross.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
15:01First Half begins.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Stoke City vs Swansea City
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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