Swansea City 0-1 Stoke City

Stoke City were bottom of the Premier League table on 12 September - they are now 11th

Stoke City secured a third straight Premier League win to add to Swansea City's problems as Bojan's early penalty settled a scrappy encounter.

The former Barcelona forward sent Lukasz Fabianski the wrong way after he was bundled over by Ashley Williams.

Stoke, now 11th in the table, had chances to extend their lead through Glen Johnson, Charlie Adam and Joselu.

Jonjo Shelvey went close to equalising when his low, angled shot hit the inside of a post and bounced out.

Yet this was a distinctly under-par performance by Garry Monk's side, who drop to 14th in the table and are without a win in five league games.

Stoke were creative, industrious, dogged and determined as they dominated the opening 45 minutes.

The hosts rallied after the break, substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson going close with a dipping shot soon after Shelvey had been denied by the woodwork.

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Worrying times for Monk

Monk deservedly won plenty of plaudits for leading Swansea to an impressive eighth-placed finish last season.

That was partly down to ruthless home form, with Arsenal and Manchester United among nine teams who left the Liberty Stadium without any points.

But these are worrying times for Monk and his players. The Swans look desperately short of confidence after a return of just two points from a possible 15.

Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey had more touches than any other midfielder or forward (left touchmap) and had six shots (right graphic - green = on target, red = off target, yellow = blocked), with only one of those on target. The England international has only ever had more shots twice in a Premier League game

Jefferson Montero, Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew were unrecognisable from their impressive early season form in a lacklustre team performance, a throwback to the latter days of Michael Laudrup's time in charge before the Dane was dismissed in February 2014.

Monk needs to get the Swans, who have an awkward trip to fellow strugglers Aston Villa on Saturday, firing quickly again.

"We went five games without a win last season. I'm not worried. We'll come through it no problem," said the Swansea boss afterwards.

Stoke's rapid rise

Stoke were left propping up the Premier League table with two points from five games after a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal on 12 September.

Yet Mark Hughes' side have moved above champions Chelsea and are only two points behind seventh-placed Tottenham after an impressive change in form.

They bossed Swansea from the start, with Williams' foul on Bojan a gift which cost their Welsh opponents dear.

Swansea's worst winless run under Garry Monk came in February and March 2014 – six games

Adam and Glenn Whelan were particularly impressive in midfield, with forwards Joselu, Bojan and Marko Arnautovic ensuring the home defence was overworked.

Stoke have been guilty this season - against Norwich and Leicester - of failing to hang on to a lead.

Against Swansea, there was little doubt of the outcome once Bojan scored.

However, there was a moment of concern when keeper Jack Butland came charging out and committed a studs-up challenge on Ayew which went unpunished.

The incident was replayed on the big screen inside the ground provoking a chorus of jeers from Swans fans.

"I was a little bit upset that the replay was shown in the stadium," said Hughes. "That shouldn't be allowed. It isn't allowed."

Man of the Match - Joselu

Stoke's Joselu was a handful throughout for Ashley Williams and the rest of Swansea's defence. The former Real Madrid forward went close with an acrobatic overhead kick - a rare moment of quality in a scrappy match

What they said

Swansea City manager Garry Monk: "We found it difficult to break them down. I think we deserved a point but I can't grumble with a defeat.

"We've had a month of not hitting those levels.

"They're very good players. I need to get them back to that level. I have big confidence in this group."

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes: "Sometimes you think you've scored too early. But we had control of the game.

"Maybe if we'd taken more care with the final pass we might have capitalised on more opportunities.

"They never really created anything of note. We've restricted them and created opportunities.

"Swansea never got any momentum in the game which was important. We're on a decent run of form."

The stats you need to know

• Stoke have won consecutive Premier League away games for the first time since December 2011.

• Swansea have failed to keep a clean sheet in six of their last seven Premier League fixtures.

• Stoke forward Bojan has found the back of the net in three of his last five Premier League starts on the road.

• The Swans have only won two of their last 11 league fixtures