Peter Crouch ended Stoke's search for a Premier League win as they inflicted a third straight defeat on Swansea.

Poor Swansea defending from a corner allowed the unmarked Crouch to head home the opener.

He then fired in his second from close range after a cross had been muscled towards goal by Jonathan Walters.

Crouch was different class - Pulis

Danny Graham played in Michu for the visitors' best chance but the striker toe-poked his effort wide from 25 yards.

Crouch scored the last winning goal for Stoke against Wolves back in April and this victory was rarely in doubt against a Swansea side almost unrecognisable from the team which started the season with such purpose and guile.

This victory ended Stoke's 11-match streak without a win.

Tony Pulis, the Stoke manager, will have a wry smile after his so-called 'one-dimensional' Potters side put a Swansea team, known for their passing style, to the sword in such an emphatic fashion.

Stoke-Swansea facts

  • Stoke are now unbeaten in 10 at the Britannia Stadium. The last time they went 10 without defeat in the top flight was in 1973.
  • Swansea have seven points from five games so far this campaign, compared to five at this stage last season.

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup saw his side score 10 goals in their first three games, but have now failed to score in their last three matches in the Premier League. Their defensive frailties will be a major concern for him.

This match was billed as a clash of very different footballing philosophies, with Stoke's more direct 'route one' approach up against Swansea's trademark 'pass and move' game, which has served them so well in the Premier League.

Stoke's renowned aerial threat was evident when Crouch, the former England striker, put the home side ahead when the visitors allowed the 6ft 7ins centre forward a free header from a corner to make it 1-0 after 12 minutes.

Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm, who signed a new four-year deal at the Liberty Stadium in midweek, was exposed and did not stand a chance as the Welsh side's brittle defence was breached once more.

Swansea not creative enough - Laudrup

The home side controlled the first half and Vorm's goal was under constant threat. The mere presence of Crouch inside the Swans penalty area caused panic among the visitors' defence.

It was Crouch again who took advantage of a speculative cross into the penalty box to stretch his side's lead to 2-0, but it took him two attempts to score his second.

Crouch, who made 42 appearances for England, had a chance to grab his hat-trick towards the end of the game but his header, after a good cross by substitute Matthew Etherington hit the bar.

Swansea did play with more direction in the second half, but the damage had already been done and Stoke were happy to defend their first-half lead to claim a well-deserved three points.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis: "I thought we played really well in the first half and we didn't want half time to come. Swansea had a good spell after that but we came back at the end.

"Peter Crouch was exceptional today and he is unlucky not to have a hat-trick."

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup: "We talked in the week about set-pieces being important and stopping Peter Crouch and we couldn't do that. We haven't scored for three league games in a row so that is something we have to improve on."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Stoke City

  • 01 Begovic
  • 02 Cameron
  • 04 Huth
  • 12 Wilson
  • 17 Shawcross
  • 06 Whelan (Whitehead - 81' )
  • 15 Nzonzi
  • 16 Adam (Etherington - 68' )
  • 21 Kightly
  • 19 Walters Booked
  • 25 Crouch (Jones - 86' )

Substitutes

  • 29 Sorensen
  • 20 Upson
  • 13 Edu
  • 18 Whitehead
  • 26 Etherington
  • 09 Jones
  • 10 Owen

Swansea City

  • 01 Vorm
  • 04 Chico
  • 06 Williams
  • 22 Rangel
  • 33 Davies Booked
  • 07 Britton
  • 09 Michu (Moore - 74' )
  • 11 Pablo (Routledge - 63' )
  • 12 Dyer
  • 24 Ki Sung-Yeung
  • 10 Graham

Substitutes

  • 25 Tremmel
  • 16 Monk
  • 21 Tiendalli
  • 15 Routledge
  • 20 De Guzman
  • 17 Shechter
  • 19 Moore
Ref: Moss
Att: 27,330

Match Stats

Shots

10 8

On target

5 0

Corners

6 8

Fouls

10 8

Live Text Commentary

66:23

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ben Davies from the right by-line, Effort on goal by Danny Graham from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

90:00 +3:26

Short corner worked by Sung-Yeung Ki, clearance made by Dean Whitehead.

90:00 +2:28

Dean Whitehead challenges Nathan Dyer unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ben Davies takes the free kick.

90:00 +1:02

Kenwyne Jones fouled by Ashley Williams, the ref awards a free kick. Ryan Shawcross takes the direct free kick.

89:41

Inswinging corner taken by Matthew Etherington, clearance by Danny Graham.

87:39

Foul by Kenwyne Jones on Ashley Williams, free kick awarded. Ashley Williams takes the direct free kick.

86:37

Marc Wilson concedes a free kick for a foul on Nathan Dyer. The ball is swung over by Sung-Yeung Ki, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Danny Graham misses to the left of the goal.

85:51 Substitution

Substitution Kenwyne Jones on for Peter Crouch.

84:11

Unfair challenge on Michael Kightly by Ben Davies results in a free kick. Michael Kightly takes the free kick.

83:02

Header by Jonathan Walters from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

82:06

Jonathan Walters produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.

81:16

Luke Moore is adjudged to have handled the ball. Direct free kick taken by Asmir Begovic.

80:28 Substitution

Substitution Dean Whitehead replaces Glenn Whelan.

77:33

Peter Crouch takes a shot.

76:38 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

74:47

Leon Britton concedes a free kick for a foul on Jonathan Walters. Robert Huth restarts play with the free kick.

73:53 Substitution

Substitution Luke Moore joins the action as a substitute, replacing Miguel Michu.

73:15

Corner from the right by-line taken by Matthew Etherington, Danny Graham manages to make a clearance.

70:57

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marc Wilson by Chico. Asmir Begovic restarts play with the free kick.

70:26

Corner from the right by-line taken by Ben Davies, clearance by Robert Huth.

66:54

Ben Davies takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Glenn Whelan manages to make a clearance.

68:23

Robert Huth challenges Sung-Yeung Ki unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Chico.

67:51 Substitution

Substitution Matthew Etherington comes on in place of Charlie Adam.

66:54

Corner taken by Ben Davies from the right by-line to the near post, Glenn Whelan manages to make a clearance.

66:23

Corner taken left-footed by Ben Davies from the right by-line, Shot from inside the area by Danny Graham clears the bar.

62:23 Substitution

Substitution Wayne Routledge on for Pablo Hernandez.

58:46

Shot from just outside the box by Pablo Hernandez misses to the left of the goal.

56:30 Booking

Booking Jonathan Walters is cautioned.

54:19 Booking

Booking Booking for Ben Davies for unsporting behaviour.

48:05

Inswinging corner taken by Sung-Yeung Ki, Peter Crouch manages to make a clearance.

47:25

Sung-Yeung Ki takes the outswinging corner, Peter Crouch manages to make a clearance.

48:05

Corner taken by Sung-Yeung Ki, clearance by Peter Crouch.

47:25

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Sung-Yeung Ki, clearance made by Peter Crouch.

46:09

Effort on goal by Sung-Yeung Ki from long distance goes over the crossbar.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +33:47 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +0:16

Leon Britton produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar.

44:38

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nathan Dyer by Marc Wilson. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Sung-Yeung Ki from right wing, Marc Wilson makes a clearance.

44:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Kightly on Sung-Yeung Ki. Ashley Williams takes the direct free kick.

41:59

Miguel Michu gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Charlie Adam. Free kick crossed right-footed by Glenn Whelan from right wing.

35:38

Peter Crouch takes a shot. Save made by Michel Vorm.

35:37

Assist by Jonathan Walters.

35:37 Goal scored

Goal - Peter Crouch - Stoke 2 - 0 Swansea Peter Crouch scores a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Stoke 2-0 Swansea.

35:08

Effort from inside the area by Geoff Cameron misses to the right of the goal.

33:45

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Kightly by Leon Britton. Ryan Shawcross takes the direct free kick.

32:01

Peter Crouch gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chico. Ashley Williams restarts play with the free kick.

30:58

Inswinging corner taken by Charlie Adam from the right by-line, Danny Graham manages to make a clearance.

29:10

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Charlie Adam from the right by-line to the near post, Danny Graham manages to make a clearance.

28:21

Effort from deep inside the area by Miguel Michu misses to the right of the goal.

27:49

Geoff Cameron gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Pablo Hernandez. Direct free kick taken by Pablo Hernandez.

25:09

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ben Davies from the right by-line, save made by Asmir Begovic.

23:44

Charlie Adam takes a shot. Save by Michel Vorm.

22:50

Free kick awarded for a foul by Pablo Hernandez on Michael Kightly. Geoff Cameron restarts play with the free kick.

19:38

Danny Graham takes a shot. Save by Asmir Begovic.

17:16

Corner taken by Sung-Yeung Ki from the right by-line, Glenn Whelan manages to make a clearance.

15:59

Unfair challenge on Ben Davies by Michael Kightly results in a free kick. Sung-Yeung Ki delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Robert Huth makes a clearance.

15:23

Effort from long distance by Miguel Michu goes wide right of the target.

14:54

Shot from just outside the box by Steven Nzonzi misses to the right of the target.

11:33

Glenn Whelan provided the assist for the goal.

11:33 Goal scored

Goal - Peter Crouch - Stoke 1 - 0 Swansea Peter Crouch grabs a headed goal from close range. Stoke 1-0 Swansea.

11:20

Inswinging corner taken by Glenn Whelan,

10:56

Jonathan Walters takes a shot. Save by Michel Vorm.

7:41

Leon Britton fouled by Glenn Whelan, the ref awards a free kick. Chico takes the direct free kick.

4:34

Foul by Sung-Yeung Ki on Geoff Cameron, free kick awarded. Asmir Begovic takes the direct free kick.

3:11

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Glenn Whelan from the left by-line, Chico makes a clearance.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association