Stoke City 1-1 Swansea City: Darling saves a point for the Swans in Stoke

Stoke City had won three of their last four league games against Swansea City, the last meeting 3-1 in February.

Harry Darling's late header saved Swansea City a point at Stoke, an honor even in a clash between two managerless clubs.

Darling scored a header in the 89th minute as he recovered the penalty that gave Stoke the lead.

Daniel Johnson's second-half penalty looked likely to give Stoke all three points in a game in which they created the better chances.

Stoke are three points above the drop zone after Swansea's late equaliser.

Stoke will be sad not to win a competition they seemed to control.

On paper it looked like a difficult contest to predict, with both teams suffering disappointing starts to the Championship season and now looking for a change of direction.

Stoke interim coach Paul Gallagher made five changes to the side beaten 1-0 by Sheffield on Wednesday in Alex Neil's final game as manager.

Swansea fired Michael Duff Six days before Stoke's sacking, Neil and their interim coach Alan Sheehan were hoping to build on a win at Rotherham as he made just one change to his starting XI.

However, the Swans were far from at their best as the scale of the challenge for their next boss was demonstrated in a contest in which they barely threatened Stoke.

Swansea enjoyed plenty of possession early on but the hosts created their first clear chance of the game when Josh Laurent's through ball found Ryan Mmaee, who was denied by an excellent save from Carl Rushworth and Junior Tchamadeu's attempted rebound was blocked.

It took the visitors 30 minutes to get a shot on goal when Jay Fulton shot over goal after Josh Tymon found him in open space on the edge of the penalty area.

Both teams lacked conviction in the attacking areas and Ben Pearson suffered two attempts that went wide just before half-time.

Striker Johnson hit Rushworth with Stoke's first shot of the second half but it was Swansea who almost took the lead with their first shot on goal when Josh Key found Jamie Paterson but his shot was blocked on the line.

It took Swansea 66 minutes to create that clear chance as they showed little sign of being able to end their poor run at Stoke, which has seen them win just one of their last 12 visits.

Stoke took a deserved lead in the 70th minute when Mmaee forced his way through the Swansea defense only to be fouled by Darling and Johnson sent Rushworth the wrong way with his cool penalty.

The Potters continued to press after taking the lead and Tchamadeu shot over from a tight angle as they scored a second goal. Mmaee was inches away from converting after Tchamadeu headed the ball over the goal.

However, their failure to score a second goal proved crucial as Darling headed Swansea's equalizer from a corner in the final minute of normal time.

Michael Rose missed a good chance for Stoke to win the ball deep into stoppage time, but his shot went over the goal from close range.

The draw leaves Stoke in 19th place in the Championship, just three points above the relegation zone, while Swansea remain in 16th place.

Lineups

Stir up

formation 4-2-3-1

13Bonham

17How far23McNally5rose2Gooch

4Pearson6Citizens

24Chamadeu28Laurent12Johnson

19Mmaee

• 13Bonham
• 17How far
• 23McNally
• 5rose
• 2GoochBooked for 42 minutes
• 4PearsonBooked for 82 minutes
• 6CitizensReplaced byThompsonat 81'protocol
• 24ChamadeuReplaced byLionat 90+3'protocol
• 28LaurentBooked for 38 minutes
• 12JohnsonReplaced byBaeat 73'protocol
• 19Mmaee

Substitute

• 7Cunha Vidigal
• 11Gayle
• 15Thompson
• 18Wesley
• 22Bae
• 26Clark
• 27Leris
• 35Lion
• 45Simkin

Swansea

formation 4-2-3-1

22Rushworth

2Key5Think6Treasure14Tymon

4Fulton8thGrimes

12Paterson18personal10Lion

9Yates

• 22Rushworth
• 2Key
• 5ThinkBooked for 41 minutes
• 6Treasure
• 14Tymon
• 4Fulton
• 8thGrimes
• 12PatersonReplaced bycooperat 76'protocol
• 18personalReplaced byBolasiat 45'protocolBooked for 84 minutes
• 10LionReplaced byCullenat 76'protocol
• 9YatesReplaced byWalshat 66'protocol

Substitute

• 1Fisherman
• 17Bolasi
• 20Cullen
• 26Naughton
• 28Walsh
• 31cooper
• 33Humphreys
• 41Parker
• 45Congreve

Referee: David Webb

Number of visitors: 18,555

Live text

1. The match ends: Stoke City 1, Swansea City 1.

2. The second half ends, Stoke City 1, Swansea City 1.

3. Attempt blocked. Ryan Mmaee (Stoke City)'s right-footed shot from distance is blocked. Assisted by Luke McNally with a header pass.

4. Foul by Harry Darling (Swansea City).

5. Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

6. Attempt failed. Michael Rose (Stoke City)'s header from the center of the penalty area is a little too high. Assisted by Bae Jun-Ho with a cross from a corner.

7. Corner, Stoke City. Goal conceded by Jay Fulton.

8. Substitution Stoke City. Nathan Lowe replaces Junior Tchamadeu.

9. Foul by Yannick Bolasie (Swansea City).

10. Ki-Jana Hoever (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

11. Offside, Stoke City. Ryan Mmaee is offside.

12. Goal! Stoke City 1, Swansea City 1. Harry Darling (Swansea City) heads from the right side of the six yard box into the bottom right corner. Assisted by Matt Grimes following a corner.

13. Attempt blocked. Liam Walsh (Swansea City)'s right-footed shot from distance is blocked.

14. Corner, Swansea City. Indebted by Ryan Mmaee.

15. Yannick Bolasie (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the opponent's half.

16. Foul by Ben Pearson (Stoke City).

17. Attempt failed. Ryan Mmaee (Stoke City) tries with his right foot from the left side of the six yard box, but the ball just misses to the left. Prepared by Junior Tchamadeu with a header pass.

18. Yannick Bolasie (Swansea City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

19. Foul by Yannick Bolasie (Swansea City).

20. Ryan Mmaee (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the right wing.