We got our rewards for giving our maximum says Williams after Swans ease past Stoke

A first-half strike from Liam Cullen from a premeditated corner, a second-half penalty from man-of-the-match Matt Grimes minutes after the break and a Josh Key belter earning a much-needed three points. 

The victory all but guarantees the Swans status within England’s second tier of football next season, with Williams’ side seven points clear of the drop zone in 15^th place, with four games to go. 

In a much more energetic performance from the home side, the Swans would be the better of the two sides on the night and would take the lead midway through the first-half. 

Cullen darting in front of his marker to poke home his seventh of the season from Jamie Paterson’s delicious fizzing ball across the 12-yard box. 

The goal prompted an improvement from Stoke, who thought they had equalised on the half-hour mark after Niall Ennis inadvertently knocked the ball from Rushworth’s hands. 

Ennis rolled the ball into the empty net – but saw his strike disallowed for a foul even though the contact with Rushworth had been unintentional. 

The Swans would come out of the traps much like the first with purpose and would double their lead minutes after the re-start. Ollie Cooper’s darting run into the penalty area ending in defender Luke McNally clumsy clumsily bringing down the midfielder. 

Grimes back on penalty duties, smashing the ball into the roof of the Stoke net to give the Swans a two-goal buffer. 

They would never look back and would seal the result fifteen minutes from time through full-back Key. The former Exeter man timing his run between two Potters defenders to perfection to latch onto substitute Jamal Lowe’s through ball before lashing an unstoppable effort past visiting goalkeeper Daniel Iverson. 

It would be a memorable win that would end a run of four games without a win for the Swans and one that would show just the reaction boss Williams had demanded in the build-up to the game. 

“Everyone could see I was quite direct after that Middlesbrough game, said Williams after the game. 

“The players put all that right and that is a good feeling for a coach. 

“The energy and intensity was all there from us for the whole game and we had some lovely moments as well. 

“The players gave absolutely everything. The best bit for me is the willingness throughout the whole match to put their body on the line. 

“Tonight, we gave the maximum and got the points. 

“The most important thing [to back the win up] because it would be disappointing to be anything less than full tilt in this game [against Rotherham]. 

“This is the message and even if I didn’t say anything to the group, I think the message would be from the changing room. 

“They felt that tonight and understand we all let ourselves down and put it right. Now let’s not make the same mistakes again.” 

[Lead image: Swansea City FC]