Llorente heads Swansea closer to survival

Relegation-threatened Swansea City have kept their hopes of staying in the Premier League alive by beating Stoke City 2-0 after goals by Fernando Llorente and Tom Carroll.

Llorente gave Swansea the lead on Saturday with a trademark header from a corner in the 10th minute, helping his team stay within touching distance of fourth-bottom Hull City, who are still two points ahead of the Swans after beating Watford.

Stoke were awarded a penalty in the second half, but Marko Arnautovic blazed his spot-kick over the bar and Swansea doubled their lead a minute later after Tom Carroll's shot found the top corner via a deflection off Joe Allen.

Carroll almost scored a second as Swansea carved Stoke open, but Stoke keeper Jack Butland, making his first appearance after a year out with an ankle injury, pulled off an acrobatic save to deny him.