Marks out of 10 from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City pull off a 2-1 win over Swansea with Ben Pearson’s first-goal in six years helping Potters to big success
14:47, 13 Dec 2025Updated 15:06, 13 Dec 2025
Ben Pearson is mobbed after scoring for Stoke against Swansea.(Image: Zac Locke)
A super rare Ben Pearson goal and another for Sorba Thomas’s collection helped Stoke City to a much-needed 2-1 win over Swansea.
Pearson’s first goal in six years gave Stoke a half-time lead when he buried sweetly from 25 yards and sent Stoke on course for a big result, having come into this with five defeat in their last six to slip out of the top six for the first time.
Thomas got on the scoresheet with a well-taken effort after 60 minutes and Stoke looked in control but Zan Vipotnik pulled one back to make for an anxious finale.
Stoke were ready to defend when needed however and did what they needed to see it through for three points.
Mark Robins had made six changes to his starting line-up, about as many as he has ever made in nearly 12 months in charge. In came Ashley Phillips and Eric Bocat to the back four, Pearson and Tatsuki Seko to midfield and Million Manhoef and Robert Bozenik up front.
The two sides shared decent chances in the first half, when bright sunshine made for something of a kit clash thanks to Swansea’s odd decision to wear very pale blue with an orange stripe.
Stoke might have taken the lead through former Swan Ben Wilmot, who poked wide with his left foot after a short free-kick was worked through Thomas to Manhoef, via Seko and a Bae Junho back heel flick, and then pulled square for the centre-back. Wilmot was well placed but under pressure and couldn’t work the keeper.
Returning Potter Josh Tymon had too much space after making a late run into the Stoke final third and pulled a shot past the far post. Tymon then helped to create a chance for Zan Vipotnik with a long ball forward. Vipotnik blocked Phillips before running onto a through ball from Jisung Eom. Viktor Johansson was quick off his line to make a block before the striker could set himself to shoot.
Bozenik couldn’t keep a diving header on target when he got across his man to get on the end of a decent cross from Bocat, who had run forward with a bouncing ball.
But Stoke made the breakthrough just before the interval. Manhoef sneaked in front of Tymon to intercept a pass and then Junho put pressure on Goncalo Franco so the ball ran free across the area for Pearson to strike. It was a superb finish and the midfielder has had since October 2019, his last goal – for Preston against Barnsley – to practise his dance routine celebration.
Ben Pearson scores for Stoke against Swansea.(Image: Zac Locke)
Junho headed over from a Seko cross after decent work from Tchamadeu bringing the ball out of defence at the start of the second half.
Stoke did get their second on the hour mark. Tchamadeu brought the ball forward again and it was fed to Junho on the edge of the box to spin to the right. Junho’s cross went in front of the Swansea defence as they had been dragged into the six-yard box to mark Bozenik and Thomas was lurking unmarked at the back to whack home. That is Thomas’s eighth goal of the season and he has had more practice than Pearson in his dancing.
Junho made Lawrence Vigouroux work with a shot from a tight angle after a clever one-two with Thomas while Phillips sent a header narrowly wide after sprinting to get on the end of a Thomas corner at the near post.
But Swansea were back in it in the 77th minute when Melker Widell got the wrong side of Tchamadeu attacking down the Swansea left and pulled his cross over to find Vipotnik for a neat finish past Johansson.
Swansea weren’t fashioning many chances but the tight scoreline and importance of the result meant it was a nervous stadium in the closing stages as Robins turned to Steven Nzonzi and Bosun Lawal to keep things tight.
Stoke had corners to defend and some strange refereeing gave Swansea more hope than they deserved, particularly when he stopped Lawal in possession in the Swansea area and gave Swansea an uncontested drop ball to re-start after Tymon had received physio treatment.
The home stands spent much of seven minutes’ injury time audibly wondering if Ricardo was capable to officiate at this level but they were celebrating in the end.
Here are the player ratings from the bet365 Stadium
Johansson: Well out to block Vipotnik getting into shooting position in first-half. 7
Tchamadeu: At his best when he is charging forwards and can make a real impact. Still work in progress defensively but important touch in six-yard box late on. 7
Bocat: A couple of useful runs forward and can cross it well, like for Bozenik headed chance. 7
Wilmot: Went close at the other end with left footer. Will think he could have done more to stop Vipotnik goal. 6.5
Phillips: Headed just wide a from Thomas corner. Willingly threw himself in front of everything. 7
Pearson: First goal in a Stoke shirt was a beauty, well struck from 25 yards. A big influence in midfield. 8
Seko: A lot of energy in central midfield and tried to keep the ball moving. 7
Junho: Involved in both Pearson and Thomas goals with hard work and running. Some nice touches too. 7.5
Manhoef: Integral to breakthrough when he zipped in to intercept pass. Stoke’s biggest threat at times. 7
Thomas: In the right place to score his eighth of the season and ran his socks off even if it looks like he’ll benefit from a free week. 7
Bozenik: Did well to get on the end of Bocat cross. Still looking for first goal but offers team something with work rate and moving defenders around. 7
Substitutes
Gallagher (for Bozenik, 72): Longest cameo yet on comeback trail and he put himself about. 6.5
Nzonzi (for Pearson, 82): A calm head when Stoke needed it to get result over the line. 7
Lawal (for Seko, 82): A good introduction to offer extra protection for last few minutes. 7
Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo (Leicestershire) 1
Your verdict? Click HERE to join the debate
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
£49
£35
Sky
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.
While you’re here, we have launched a new WhatsApp group to deliver the latest Stoke news directly to your phone. Click on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in. If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community, you can leave at any time by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and clicking ‘Exit Group’, simple as that.