Swansea City fought back to beat Stoke City 2-1 at the bet365 Stadium on the Championship's opening weekend, Adam Idah settling it with his first touch barely a minute after coming off the bench. Eric Bocat had given Stoke a 9th-minute lead, finishing off a good move set up by Tomás Rigo, before Joseph Opoku levelled for Swansea in the 21st minute, converting a Zan Vipotnik pass. The winner came in the 65th minute: Idah, sent on for Vipotnik as one of three Swansea substitutions made together on 64 minutes, struck almost immediately, teed up by Josh Tymon.
Stoke had chances to save something from the game: Sorba Thomas missed a presentable opportunity to put them back in front at 1-1, and other half-chances went begging through a poor final ball or shot. Once Idah struck, Swansea saw out the game comfortably in possession, exploiting the disruption caused by their own changes. It was Swansea's first win away at Stoke City in more than five years.
Swansea also had the better of the underlying numbers, with 59% of possession, seven shots to Stoke's six, three of them on target to two, and five corners won to four. Stoke's Luke Graham was the only player booked before half-time, cautioned in the 35th minute; three Swansea players (Filip Lissah, Melker Widell and Josh Tymon) picked up yellow cards after the break as the visitors saw the win out.
Stoke boss Mark Robins indicated after the game that reinforcements were on the way, with the recruitment team working to strengthen the squad ahead of a demanding August schedule. Judged over the afternoon, Swansea already looked the tidier of the two teams, with Stoke still working out how to turn good approach play into more goals.