Stoke City 2-2 Swansea City: Second-half Swans comeback stuns Potters

Swansea City eased their relegation fears as they fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.

Ibrahim Afellay, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Saturday, headed the hosts in front on 13 minutes before Bojan Krkic marked his return to the first team with a brilliant solo strike eight minutes after the break.

Stoke appeared firmly in control until Gylfi Sigurdsson's 68th-minute strike reduced the deficit, and then Alberto Paloschi's deflected effort 11 minutes from time completed the turnaround for Francesco Guidolin's side.

Failure to convert an assured display into victory will have frustrated Potters boss Mark Hughes, who saw his side miss the chance to move up to seventh in the table.

The point for Swansea sees them move 10 points clear of the relegation zone with just six games of the season to play.

Both managers made three changes ahead of kick-off, the most notable of which seeing Jack Butland replaced by Jakob Haugaard in goal for Stoke following his season-ending ankle injury while on England duty.

Despite the Swans having the better of the opening exchanges, it was Stoke who drew first blood. Marko Arnautovic got the better of Federico Fernandez before crossing for Afellay to head assuredly past Lukasz Fabianksi from six yards.

Arnautovic was a constant threat down the left and his low cross on 20 minutes almost lured Fernandez to turn into his own net, but, crucially for the Swans, the ball nestled in the side-netting.

Stoke did well in keeping the Swansea attack at bay, while Joselu spurned the chance to double the hosts' lead when he steered Glenn Whelan's inch-perfect cross straight at Fabianksi on 26 minutes.

The fit-again Bojan, making his first appearance since March 12, showed what Stoke have been missing in recent weeks shortly after the half-hour mark, bursting away from Leon Britton and laying Afellay through, but the Dutchman sliced his effort wide.

And that was the theme of the first half for the Potters as they failed to convert their promising build-up play into goals, Joselu striking the post from an offside position at the end of a free-flowing attack on 43 minutes.

And that inability to add to their lead almost came back to haunt Stoke as Haugaard was called into his first save of the half a minute later, denying Jack Cork's low, drilled shot to ensure the hosts led at the break.

Stoke are yet to taste a defeat in the league in matches in which they have scored first, and that appeared to be the case again when Bojan was allowed to run unchallenged towards the Swansea area before picking out the bottom corner on 53 minutes.

But Swansea reduced the deficit against the run of play as Sigurdsson's smart swivel and shot beat Haugaard, courtesy of a slight deflection.

The unlikely turnaround was completed 11 minutes later as substitute Paloschi was afforded time to turn on the edge of the area, before his deflected effort found its way past Stoke's Danish 'keeper as the Swans snatched a point.

Player ratings

Stoke City: Haugaard (6), Bardsley (7), Cameron (7), Wollscheid (7), Pieters (7), Whelan (7), Imbula (6), Afellay (8), Bojan (8), Arnautovic (8), Joselu (7).

Used subs: Ireland (5), Diouf (5).

Swansea City: Fabianski (6), Rangel (6), Fernandez (7), Williams (6), Naughton (6), Britton (6), Fer (7), Cork (6), Sigurdsson (8), Routledge (7), Gomis (5).

Used subs: Taylor (5), Montero (7), Paloschi (7).

Man of the Match: Marko Arnautovic