POTTERS UP AND RUNNING.

STOKE CITY FC  2  SWANSEA CITY  0

There we are, up and running with our first win of the new season.In the first half Tony Pulis's unchanged team simply carried on from where they left off last week.The team proved much too strong for a lightweight (literally) Swansea outfit.

Most of the good work was done in the first half,when the game was to all intents and purposes won.Swansea got more purchase on the game for 20 minutes or so after the break,but Stoke finished the stronger and could have added to the first half score.

Just as against Chelsea we looked busy and purposeful.Kightley had too much for left back Davies,and proved to be a constant threat to the visitors.Cameron once again marauded to great effect,some player,indeed.His crosses are powerful,but not always threatening....yet.N'Zonzi and Adam are clearly bringing the best out of a rejuvenated Whelan in midfield.Shame the Irishman  had to leave the field early with what unfortunately looked like a hamstring problem..

We are getting pretty teed off with  so called Stoke fans sniping at Jon Walters.He had a cracking game again yesterday, was absolutely everywhere about the pitch,and with his energy and mobility  made lots of things happen.His manager,as no less an authority than Denis Smith pointed out,trusts him to deliver,hence he picks him week in week out.Body language usually tells all.....his teammates clearly hold him in high regard too!!No one more than Peter Crouch who,once again yesterday,benefitted from Walters putting himself about.In the 36th minute Walters created alarm in the Swansea defence getting to a cross from the right.Fair enough he didn't get to control the ball,but he caused it to break to Crouch.He had his first shot parried by keeper Vorm,who could do nothing as our leading marksman followed up to slot the ball home into the right corner of the net,for his second of the afternoon.

Earlier (12th minute) Crouch had opened our account with a fine headed goal.Swansea's defenders were unable to cope with their marking tasks and our movement as Whelan took a excellent corner from the left.Crouchie was able to ghost in unmarked to pick his spot in the centre of the visitors net.

Just as last season Swansea tipped and tapped the ball about,but not to great effect.Stoke could perhaps have added to the two goals.In the last quarter Matthew Etherington made a lively entry and contribution.He really did look like the Etherington of old.He raided down the left, beating three defenders to the byline before producing an exquisite cross for Crouch to the right of goal.It looked for all the world that we would have our first hattrick hero for a long while (was Peter Thorne the last?),but unfortunately his header hit the bar and went away to safety.