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Alan Sheehan Gives Swansea City Another Pat On The Back As He Stays Unbeaten

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By David Parsons

Swansea City caretaker manager Alan Sheehan praised his players’ character after they made it four points from two away games during his spell in charge.

The Swans came from behind to claim a late point in a 1-1 draw at Stoke City in the Championship, to add to their victory at Rotherham last weekend.

It means an impressive start for Sheehan during his temporary spell in charge following the sacking of Michael Duff.

Daniel Johnson’s second-half penalty looked to have given Stoke – who sacked Alex Neil over the weekend after the loss to Sheffield Wednesday – their first win in five games.

But Harry Darling, who conceded the earlier spot-kick, headed home as full-time neared to give the Swans a share of the spoils.
“I am incredibly proud of the resiliency and character we showed,” said Sheehan.

“I think a draw is ok for us in the end… four points from two tough away trips to Rotherham and Stoke.

“I am proud of how the players stuck together when we were not at our best tonight. The Championship is a hard league and you can’t play at your best in every game.”

“I think we take a draw tonight, we never flowed in possession and in the final third we let ourselves down by lacking quality.

Stoke City caretaker boss Paul Gallagher said: “We only had 24 hours to prepare the team and we changed the shape. The game plan we put in front of the lads, they stuck to it. I can’t ask for any more.

“The work rate, application and fight for each other was excellent.

“The lapse of concentration there at the end cost us three points which I thought we deserved.

“It’s just that lapse of concentration but that happens when you put that much into the game, you’re physically and mentally drained. We need to get these lads to a point they can see games out.”

With both clubs currently under caretaker charge, the Potters entered the clash sitting 20th and two points from the drop zone, while Swansea sat six places ahead of their opponents with three more points.

Stoke goalkeeper Jack Bonham half cleared an awkward backpass and was fortunate Swansea’s Jerry Yates was unable to make the most of it in the opening five minutes.

Stoke’s Ryan Mmaee squandered the chance to take aim on the quarter hour from close range, before Lyndon Gooch burst forward from left-back to test Swansea’s Carl Rushworth.

Mmaee forced Rushworth into action with a big one-on-one chance after 20 minutes and Junior Tchamadeu’s follow-up was blocked as the hosts began to threaten.

Swansea responded through Jay Fulton’s fierce drive which rose over the bar as the half-hour approached.

Luke McNally made a vital headed clearance ahead of the lurking Yates after Key’s excellent work down the right flank 10 minutes from the break.

Tchamadeu blasted wide after drifting infield from the right wing early in the second half, before Johnson forced Rushworth into action and tipped over his fierce strike after the hour.

At the other end, Key got in behind Stoke’s defence and found a free Jamie Paterson who took aim but Ki-Jana Hoever made a vital block before Bonham collected.

The Potters won a penalty when Darling brought down Mmaee in the box and Johnson coolly rolled home to give the hosts the advantage with 20 minutes left.

Tchamadeu sought Stoke’s second soon after but his effort flew off target and Michael Rose’s later header looped over.

Mmaee stabbed just wide after Tchamadeu headed across the face of goal in the closing stages as Stoke looked to have sealed the three points.

But following Swansea substitute Liam Walsh’s deflected free-kick, from the resulting Matt Grimes corner, Darling nodded home at the back post as full-time neared to remedy his earlier error.

Rose nearly netted a late Stoke winner, but his stoppage-time header from Bae Jun-ho’s corner bounced into the ground and over.

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