Premier League: Swansea v Stoke - Odds and Betting Preview

SWANSEA, WALES – Swansea City host Stoke City on Sunday in the Premier League, a fixture that has been billed as a footballing meeting between beauty and the beast. Swansea will attempt to beat the potters by playing their typical attractive and dynamic passing football, whilst Stoke will stick to their characteristically direct style of play. The stage is set for an intriguing encounter.

Swansea City, playing in front of a home crowd, will start the match as slight favourites at 17/10 (bet £10 to make £17 profit) with Ladbrokes. Stoke can be backed to win at 15/8 with Victor Chandler, whilst the draw is on offer at 23/10 with Skybet.

Swansea are currently in sixteenth position in the league, a mere point clear of the relegation zone. Brendan Rogers' side will be encouraged, however, by their solid 3-0 victory against West Brom in their most recent home fixture, their first win in the Premier League. Despite this victory, many critics still suspect Swansea of lacking the ruthless dimension necessary to compete in the top flight. Swansea move the ball around masterfully at times, but have nonetheless scored only four goals in their six league encounters, a poor conversion rate on the number of chances they are capable of creating. Rogers will be eager to silence these critics on Sunday, by securing his second home win in a row.

Stoke City are currently in seventh place in the table, and are the only side to have held Manchester United to a draw this season. Stoke, however, are having to struggle through a tough fixture schedule, as they are playing both European and domestic football this season. Manager Tony Pulis has already expressed discontent about travelling away to Swansea after Thursday's Europa League match against Besiktas, and he will hope that his side are not too jaded to compete against the swans.

In the over/under betting the top price on over 2.5 goals being scored is 5/4 with Coral, whilst under 2.5 goals is available at 4/6 with Blue Square. For those pundits anticipating a goalless stalemate, under 0.5 goals can be backed at 8/1 with Stan James.

Stoke's summer signing Peter Crouch is 6/1 favourite with Bet365 to open the scoring on Sunday, whilst team mate Kenwyne Jones is available at 7/1 with Bet365. Swansea's Danny Graham is deemed their most threatening attacking force, and can be backed at 13/2 with Blue Square to break the deadlock, whilst Scott Sinclair, who scored first against West Brom, can be backed at 13/2 with Bet365.

Swansea are quoted at best odds of 4/1 by Ladbrokes to win the match after leading at half time, whilst draw/Swansea is available at a marginally longer 5/1 with Stan James. Stoke/Stoke can be backed at 4/1 with Ladbrokes, whilst Stoke/Swansea can fetch odds as long as 33/1 with Skybet.

Kick off is at 15.00 BST.

Swansea v Stoke Betting