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Stoke v Swansea
So what does Steve Cooper do, rotate the squad or not? He seems reluctant to change his tired starting line-up and recently results have suffered. With the relentless match scheduling we have to rest some players and after lowly Bristol City beat us with an injury ravaged squad last Saturday it’s time to give the other players a chance.
Kyle Naughton is back from injury to boost the defence, but key central defender Ryan Bennett is still out. Another central defender Brandon Cooper, so successful at Newport on loan, is back from injury too.
Up front we don’t have many options with Jordan Morris and Liam Cullen out for the season. Wayne Routledge is still out injured and is not quite ready to come back. Morgan Whittaker is available and deserves a run out.
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Rotate.
Everybody wants Cooper to give some of the players a rest.
I see Ayew and Lowe need to sit out some games and refresh after a run of games without scoring.
Grimes and Roberts play every game and need resting.
Maybe he doesn’t see the fringe players as good enough replacements but with all these games jammed together he’ll be forced to rotate the squad.
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Tonights teams -
Stoke City: Angus Gunn, Harry Souttar, Danny Batth, James Chester; Tommy Smith, Joe Allen, John Obi Mikel (captain), Rhys Norrington-Davies; Jacob Brown, Steven Fletcher, Nick Powell.
Substitutes: Adam Davies, Sam Vokes, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Jordan Cousins, Jordan Thompson, Josh Tymon, Will Forrester, Christian Norton, Jack Clarke.
Swansea City: Freddie Woodman; Kyle Naughton, Ben Cabango, Marc Guehi; Connor Roberts, Korey Smith, Jay Fulton, Matt Grimes (captain), Ryan Manning; Andre Ayew, Jamal Lowe.
Substitutes: Ben Hamer, Conor Hourihane, Morgan Whittaker, Paul Arriola, Yan Dhanda, Joel Latibeaudiere, Jake Bidwell, Ollie Cooper, Kieron Freeman.
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HT 1-1
1-0 Powell 6 mins, suicide pass from Guehi, Fletcher intercepts with a back-heel for Powell to fire home one on one with Woodman
1-1 Roberts 19 mins, comes in central from a Mannning cross to fire home
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Last minute drama!
Clarke fouls Naughton in the area, penalty on 94’, Ayew slots home.
Play starts, ten secs later ref blows for full time
FT 1-2
COYS
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Late, late winner and another three points in the bag.
Here are the highlights -
https://www.swanseacity.com/news/hig...swansea-city-0
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“Bambi” Clarke conceded the penalty after bringing down Naughton. He had collapsed in a heap at any contact in the tackle to gain several free kicks in the second period, so it was Karma in the end.
