'Dreadful run of injuries decisive in Stoke decline'

"Here we go again," lamented Mark Robins as Stoke picked up more injuries in South Wales.

Eric Bocat is their only fit left-back and left the game, as did captain Ben Wilmot.

Junior Tchamadeu did return after a lengthy spell on the sidelines but by the time he came on as a second-half substitute, the game was slipping away.

The red card Sorba Thomas received in the first half was key but Stoke conceded two poor goals and continue to slide down the table.

It will take all of Robins' experience to turn around a run of results that's seen them take just 20 points from 22 league games since earning 27 from their first 14.

That's almost half a season averaging less than a point a game, which can be classed as relegation form in most seasons.

The start to the campaign showed what Stoke can be and a dreadful run of injuries has certainly been a decisive factor in their decline.

Having said that, performance levels have dropped below what's required too often and injuries were not at fault for Zan Vipotnik's easy header from a Swansea corner that gave them the lead.

He is the danger man and the situation should have been defended better.

Injuries can't be blamed for some poor decision-making and execution in the final third either, an all too common theme this season.

Stoke have been really unlucky with the injuries and the luck they've had in some of those 22 games but that isn't the whole story.