Bojan Krkic's 4th minute penalty proved to be all that separated Stoke City and Swansea in a scrappy encounter at the Liberty Stadium on Monday night.
Bojan was brought down by Swans defender Ashley Williams shortly after the start of play, but shook himself of to send Lukasz Fabianski the wrong way and convert the spot kick.
Swansea's best chance of the match fell to Jonjo Shelvey, who hit the post with a powerful low drive from the edge of the area.
Stoke's first half lead was well deserved, with the visitors controlling much of the play in the opening term.
The win elevates Stoke to 11th place on the Premier League ladder, while Swansea drop down to 14th.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Swansea City: 0
Stoke City: 1 (Bojan Krkic 4')
Liberty Stadium, Swansea – 20,044
TALKING POINTS
- After picking up only two points from their opening five Premier League fixtures, Stoke have hit a rich vein of form with 10 points from their past four outings, making them one of the competition's form teams during that period.
- Swansea meanwhile, appear to be heading in the opposite direction, with just two points from their past five fixtures leaving them hovering just above the relegation dogfight at the bottom of the Premier League.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Swansea travel away to the struggling Aston Villa on Saturday – a fixture they will see as an ideal opportunity to arrest their worrying form slump.
Stoke host 15th placed Watford at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Incredible performance from everyone! 3 points & 3 wins in a row. Come on #Potters! #SFCFpic.twitter.com/Cpry6bGPjK
— Bojan Krkic (@BoKrkic) October 19, 2015great to get an away win and clean sheet again tonight, 3 wins in a row for us now! safe journey home to all now focus turns to Watford!
— Jack Butland (@JackButland_One) October 19, 2015Brilliant away performance from the lads.. Buzzing for @BoKrkic getting his goal. Tough game Saturday against Watford.
— Charlie Adam (@Charlie26Adam) October 19, 2015
QUOTES CORNER
Stoke boss Mark Hughes on Bojan Krkic's performance:
"I am pleased with Bojan's performance.
"He made the difference this evening and that was the key moment.
"It was a good away performance, we had a good plan and we executed it really well."
Swansea manager Garry Monk says his side's performance was not up to scratch:
"We're in a difficult moment because we're not quite at the levels we need to be.
"That's disappointing because we all know how capable this group of players are and the football we can produce.
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
2 - Stoke have won consecutive PL away games for the first time since December 2011. Surge.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 19, 201512 - Stoke conceded 12 fouls in the 1st half vs Swansea. Only Chelsea (13 v Villa) have conceded more in a PL first half this season. Fangs.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 19, 201533% - No Premier League side has scored a higher percentage of their goals in the opening 15 minutes this season than Stoke (33%). Bright.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 19, 2015