Swansea City kept their Premier League top-eight ambitions well on track this afternoon courtesy of a 2-0 victory over 10-man Stoke City at the Liberty Stadium.

A dour first half of football was followed up by a far more entertaining second 45 minutes, but there was only one team ever likely to take maximum points.

Garry Monk's charges hit the crossbar within two minutes of the restart through Gylfi Sigurdsson, before goals from Jefferson Montero and substitute Ki Sung-yueng in the final 13 minutes wrapped up the win for the Swans.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how each player performed during the 90 minutes of action.

© Getty Images

Goal

Lukasz Fabianski: Had just a couple of saves to make across the duration of the contest. Managed to recover from an early injury scare to command his box. (7/10)

Defence

Angel Rangel: His personal battle with Arnautovic down the right-hand side was a good watch, and it is one that he probably just about came out on top in. Earned a yellow card, just his second of the season, but kept the Austrian at bay for large parts. (6/10)

Ashley Williams: Once more at his commanding best, making eight successful clearances, three interceptions and winning two aerial duals in and around his 18-yard box. (7/10)

Federico Fernandez: Likewise, the Spaniard remained strong at the back when he was called into action. Crouch posed a different type of threat, but there was to be no way through for the visitors. (7/10)

Neil Taylor: Back in the side this afternoon in the only change made by manager Garry Monk. He did well, too, producing one great tackle in particular to help his team. (6/10)

Midfield

Nathan Dyer: Looked lively for the vast majority of his time on the field, but a poor challenge from Arnautovic in the second half left him carrying an injury which he was unable to shake off before being replaced. (7/10)

Jonjo Shelvey: There is no denying that the Swans got the better of the midfield battle, and a key part of that success was down to Shelvey's ability. Managed to record a couple of assists to go with his countless attempts on goal. (8/10)

Gylfi Sigurdsson: Guilty of missing an absolute sitter from all of five yards out when left unmarked, but otherwise he pulled the strings and was unlucky to be denied by the frame of the goal. (7/10)

Jack Cork: His performances often go under the radar, but this was another top-quality display from the Englishman. At least it was in the second half, anyway, with the first 45 minutes seemingly passing everyone by. (7/10)

Jefferson Montero: Managed to shake off a hamstring strain picked up last weekend to start. Like Dyer on the opposite flank, he caused problems throughout - as Wilson witnessed the hard way - and even managed to ghost in to head home his first goal for the club. (8/10)

Attack

Nelson Oliveira: A real disappointment that the Benfica loanee lasted less than 45 minutes before hobbling off with an injury. He would have been on a high following his goalscoring exploits last weekend, but he may have to watch on from the sidelines for the remainder of the campaign. (5/10)

Substitutes

Ki Sung-yueng: Came off the bench to score his seventh goal in 19 outings, which contrasts hugely to the one that he scored in his 55 games prior to that. (8/10)

Marvin Emnes: His hold-up play may have been decent, but he did not do enough in attack when given another chance to shine. (6/10)

Modou Barrow: Brought on for the final stages by Monk to help acclimatise to Premier League football. (5/10)

© Getty Images

Goal

Jack Butland: Handed a first Premier League start since January 2014 and did well on the whole despite conceding a couple of goals. His best save essentially counted for nothing, though, with the offside flag already up when Shelvey's strike from six yards out was turned away. (7/10)

Defence

Phil Bardsley: Allowed Shelvey to get the better of him for the opening goal, while Montero was also a willing runner who caused him countless issues. (5/10)

Ryan Shawcross: Managed to make three successful clearances, with one in particular to deny Oliveira particularly standing out. Also made a few blocks inside the 18-yard box, but by no means his finest afternoon. (6/10)

Marc Wilson: One of four players to return to the starting lineup today, Wilson, who was already on a yellow following his challenge on Cork, brought down Montero when he was clean through on goal to rightly earn a second booking and end his side's slim hopes of rescuing a point. (5/10)

Erik Pieters: A poor overall showing from the full-back, who failed to offer support high up the field and was also caught out at the back a few times. (6/10)

Midfield

Glenn Whelan: Offered a defensive wall in front of the back four for Stoke, but Swansea managed to get the better of the midfield battle. A game which appeared to pass him by. (5/10)

Steven N'Zonzi: His shot in the dying embers of the first half provided the game's best moment up to that point, but he did not really build on that. A few half-decent crosses aside, he did not do enough to influence the scoreline. (6/10)

Jon Walters: Likewise, the Irishman did very little to help change the game in terms of attacking moves. Was withdrawn 10 minutes from time, although the change surely should have come way before that. (5/10)

Charlie Adam: He has looked a changed player in recent weeks, but there was little sign of his improved performances at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon. Fired wide with a couple of shots, which was pretty much as good as things got for him. (6/10)

Marko Arnautovic: Threatened to make something happen, without actually doing so. Had a real tussle up against Rangel, but it was the Spaniard who had the last laugh. Also lucky to avoid a red card for his nasty challenge on Dyer. (6/10)

Attack

Mame Biram Diouf: His penalty appeal aside, which referee Craig Pawson rightly waved away, the former Manchester United man did not offer a viable attacking threat for his side. Service was limited, but he had to show more will to win the ball. (5/10)

Substitutes

Stephen Ireland: Was afforded 20 minutes at the end of the game to change things, and he did show glimpses of what he is capable of during that time. (6/10)

Peter Odemwingie: Had minimal impact during his spell on the field, but will no doubt just be happy to get some minutes under his belt following his lengthy layoff this season. (5/10)

Peter Crouch: Certainly offered City an alternative option in attack, forcing Fabianski into making a couple of stops. He had scored four in six against Swansea prior to today, but the English forward was not given enough time to add to that tally. (6/10)

Written by
Daniel Lewis