A spring in the step of everyone connected with Stoke City this morning, even if the club is still sitting at the bottom of the Championship.

A stirring performance at a Swansea side which started the day at the top of the table earned the first three points of the season, the first since April, and has eased the immediate pressure on Nathan Jones as manager.

There is a fortnight break now until promotion-chasing Fulham come to the bet365 Stadium and it all kicks off again so we will be hosting a question and answer session with supporters at midday to try to pick the bones out of this, that and everything.

We will bring you all the latest Stoke City debate, news and gossip throughout the day. We would also like to hear from you, so please send us your views via our Stoke City Facebook and Twitter accounts, or have your say by joining our new Stoke news and gossip group.

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This week's column from Lou Macari

I can’t remember a manager going through what Nathan Jones has experienced.

I’m not just talking about the last few days at Stoke as the pressure and speculation has been cranked up to the top of the scale.

I’m talking about the last nine months and how at no point after any match has anyone had reason to say, “Ooof, Stoke got lucky there.”

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Scott Hogan's promise to Nathan Jones that won him last minute place on Stoke City bench

Scott Hogan was not supposed to be in the squad for Stoke’s trip to Swansea - but a promise to Nathan Jones won him a chance to score the last minute goal that might have kept the manager in a job.

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Stoke City players celebrate with Scott Hogan after he scores the winner.
Stoke City players celebrate with Scott Hogan after he scores the winner. (Image: Mark Kerton/PA Wire)
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Scott Hogan back on the training ground

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James O'Connor leaves Orlando City

Orlando City have just released a statement confirming the departure of James O’Connor. They lost 5-2 to Chicago Fire yesterday.

“On behalf of Orlando City we want to thank James for all of his efforts during his coaching tenure at Orlando,” Orlando City SC EVP of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi said.

“We wish James the best of luck in the next phase of his coaching career.”

O’Connor joined Orlando City halfway through the 2018 but only picked up two wins in the second half of the season, with Orlando finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference.

They have finished 11th again this time around.

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Is this a clue about Stoke City’s January transfer priorities?

Former Manchester United attacking left-back Alexander Buttner, a free agent since the summer, has claimed that Stoke tried to sign him... but he had already decided his future lay in the United States.

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Alexander Buttner, who had two years at Manchester United, tries to get a handle on Kevin Mirallas.
Alexander Buttner, who had two years at Manchester United, tries to get a handle on Kevin Mirallas. (Image: Gavin Trafford)
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James McClean fit for Ireland - and could play left-back

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Nathan Jones: I have never considered resigning

“No, I haven’t considered walking - that’s not my character,” he told TalkSPORT today.

“If I felt I couldn’t affect or we were in such a place where we were getting battered every week I would speak to the owners. But that’s never been the case, I’ve never considered walking away.

“It’s been a test of my character and test of my resolve and sometimes it does test your philosophy and what you believe in. But you never waver.”

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Nathan Jones: The diamond hasn't been the problem

“You have to find a way to win,” the manager has told TalkSport this morning.

“A lot has been said about my diamond formation and my arrogance but we’ve only played the diamond in 14 out of my 36 games so that’s not been the problem.

“We kept eight clean sheets last season playing 4-2-3-1 but only won two of those games.

“We have a certain way of playing and a philosophy and we tweak certain things for cup games and so on but when we play our system, we’ve been at it, we’ve created double almost treble the amount of chances of anyone else.

“We concede goals we shouldn’t be conceding but we just have. That’s what’s cost us. They have been the contributory factors.

“I come in, I work hard 12 or 13 hours a day, I have a belief in the work that we do - the work, not the system - and that normally gets results and affects human beings and affects footballers.

“I’m passionate about my job, I love my job, I love my work. It’s not a job for me, it’s a lifestyle.

“I’ve been baffled why we are not in a better position. Yes, we shouldn’t be top two but we should be in a far better position.”

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Nathan Jones on TalkSPORT

With Danny Murphy, who spoke about Jones’s ‘arrogance’ last week regarding the diamond formation.

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Paul, Stone: Is Jones going to persist with McClean at left-back?

Hi Paul. As I’ve said, we’re waiting for an injury update on McClean.

But it’s interesting to see that Alexander Buttner, a left-back who has just signed for New England Revolution, has gone on record saying that Stoke were keen on bringing him in.

Perhaps Stoke are in the market for a left-back in January?

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Chris Machin, Gibraltar: Is this our starting XI every week (without injuries)?

Chris Machin, Gibraltar: Even though we are all still on a high let’s not forget it’s only one game that we’ve won. What we are looking for now is consistency within our team. Is this our starting XI every week (without injuries)? Let’s see where we go from here onwards and upwards we all hope.

We’re waiting for an injury update on James McClean, who should be with Republic of Ireland this week. Does he come straight back in at left-back against Fulham?

There are debates about who should start up front and Sam Vokes and Scott Hogan have suddenly put themselves back in favour.

I hope that Tom Edwards get a long run at right-back.

If there are changes, you’d think that Jones will want them just to be tweaks from here on in for the next few weeks.

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Jon Walters back at Stoke

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Get involved: your verdicts on Stoke City

Pete, Bucknall: Jones needs to go. His post match comments demonstrate that his personality traits are not suited to a high level of successful football management. His arrogance is breathtaking.

Keith, Bignall End: What happens now? Do we stick with Nathan or twist with a new man? I personally would like to stick.

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Andy, Trentham: Is the diamond here to stay?

I would would put a bet on that, Andy.

I think Jones will build his way forward on fitting all those key four central midfielders into the starting XI.

There will be debate about the two up front and who plays left-back, but, injuries permitting, that midfield looks here to stay.

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Get involved: your verdict on Stoke City

Tom, Sneyd Green: Why are some fans getting carried away with the result at Swansea. Jones has demonstrated that he is not a good manager over 30 games. He shows an emotional response that is not appropriate for any form of management, whether it be football or retail. He needs to go, he will take us further down.

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Steve, Stoke: How strong were indications that Jones was leaving last week?

Steve, Stoke: How strong were the indications that NJ was on his way out at the end of the week? It seemed an absolute formality with talk of him saying his goodbyes. Is it wise to change course on the basis of one game? What happens if we lose to Fulham? Do we know if we talked to other managers - and has Hughton said no?

You saw and read Jones’s post-match interviews after the Huddersfield game, Steve. Yes, he did get hugs from staff and handshakes as he left on Tuesday night.

There simply cannot have been many people who were not expecting an announcement on Wednesday or Thursday - but it’s been business as usual since Thursday morning. What actually happened behind the scenes will come out in the wash.

I’ve set out the reasons below about how difficult it is to balance what happened next. It was a performance when everything came together - but, yes, it was only one performance.

You’d be a fool to try to second guess what’s going to happen next.

How many games will Jones have to win in a row for people to stop saying he’s one defeat away from being back to square one?

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Get involved: your verdict on Stoke City

Karen Kirkham: Please stay Nathan and sort this mess out. Can see improvement, here’s to more. Good luck.

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Get involved: your verdict on Stoke City

Tony, Derby: Having been a Stokie for more than 60 years, I am concerned that too many people are getting over excited about this result. We have had so many false dawns in the last four years. I will join these optimists if we are higher than 16th at the end of November.

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Get involved: your verdict on Stoke City

Lee, Sneyd Green: I have been saying for weeks upon end to put Martins Indi left back as he is more solid with CCV and Batth centre half. Edwards is the best crosser we have, Badou and Etebo have the energy and the fight to allow Clucas and Allen to run with the ball. Fantastic performance all round.

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John Gibbs, Melton Mowbray: Is it a sign of strength or weakness that the board haven’t sacked Jones?

John Gibbs, Melton Mowbray: Like all Stokies I was so pleased we won at the weekend, especially after the debacle against Huddersfield. However we are still rock bottom with a mountain to climb. Given these circumstances is it a sign of strength or weakness that the board haven’t sacked Jones?

Managers would kill for the patience of the Stoke board but it’s also obvious that not many will have relished being in Jones’s position last week when there was so much noise outside the club and none from within.

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Nick, Alsager: No McClean or Ince in the starting line up and our first win of the season. Is this a coincidence?

I don’t think anyone can doubt McClean’s commitment to his conversion but yes, as I’ve said below, I do think Martins Indi makes Stoke much more solid in that role. It’s not McClean’s fault that opposition managers will inevitably target a player who is playing in a position where he has hardly featured in the first 10 or so years of his career.

The historical stats show pretty clearly that Ince is far more dangerous when he plays on the right wing and cuts in on his left foot. He was Stoke’s most consistent threat when he had that role under Gary Rowett.

At the moment, you’d have to think he could be a Plan B if Jones needs to change things up away from the diamond during a game?

But that doesn’t sound like a long-term plan for a 27-year-old £10m signing.

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Carl Bailey, Longton: Should the team that finished on Saturday start against Fulham?

Carl Bailey, Longton: The team that FINISHED the game on Saturday has to start against Fulham. Vokes and Hogan look better than Gregory and Campbell. Also leaving McClean, Ince and Butland helped Saturday. Players in proper positions. Would you agree?

It was a real chance on Saturday for Lee Gregory to put down a marker that he’s Stoke’s main striker for the season. Let’s make no bones about it, he should have had at least one and probably two.

I’ve seen Tyrese Campbell play better than that but when he’s on the pitch you do think that there’s a chance Stoke might score.

It was a brilliant header from Vokes from Tom Edwards’s excellent cross and a poacher’s finish from Hogan. Maybe there’s a partnership in there.

As for McClean, yes, I think Bruno Martins Indi is a better left-back (although not the freewheeling left-back we were expecting under Jones). Stoke looked so much more solid with him there.

And yes, I think Tom Ince is better as a winger than a number 10, which is a problem when your manager doesn’t play with wingers.

Butland is a difficult one. Next summer he’ll have one year left on his contract and as it stands you can’t imagine that he’ll be attracting the same suitors as he did last summer, never mind three or four years ago.

He did play well for most of last season and there were games when he was runaway man of the match. First things first, let’s just hope he can get back to that reliable form as soon as possible.

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Neil Price: Need clarification on the manager, he was going after Tues and now we won is he staying? We as fans need to know the position.

I think that’s fair Neil. Hopefully we can grab a few minutes with Stoke’s hierarchy this week.

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Simon: Is this a turning point?

Simon: While it was undoubtedly a fantastic result on Saturday, how confident are you that this is a turning point in our season and that we will now climb the table? I, like all fans, am enjoying the positivity that comes with the win, but I’m concerned it is just a false dawn.

We’re trying not to get carried away but at the same time recognise that it wasn’t just a fluked win away against the team at the top of the table.

There have been brief glimpses of Stoke clicking at times this season but this was 90 minutes - minus a terrifying first few - when it seemed like a real plan was coming together. There was a balance to the team and big players came to the fore.

It felt like a momentum swing.

Instead of Stoke starting well and being pegged back like has happened so often, they had to come from behind and you could see the belief and confidence spreading through the team as they realised they were playing well.

If Jones has found a way of squeezing those four central midfielders into his team without them getting in each other’s way, it is encouraging.

Joe Allen had his best performance in ages, Badou Ndiaye looks a cut above this level and Sam Clucas has probably been Stoke’s most effective player going forward. Peter Etebo will hopefully get better as the season goes on.

But the proof will be in the pudding.

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Get involved: your verdict on Stoke City

Eden Dean: Forgot how it felt to be happy on a Saturday night. A well deserved three points. Sir Alex Ferguson was one game away from the sack and the rest his history. All stoke fans have had is three years of hell. Now let’s put our faith in NJ and put us in heaven. Go on Stoke!

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Get involved: your verdict on Stoke City

Jamie Dickinson, St Helens: I have been a Stoke supporter since 1975 and we are a family of four season ticket holders who attend every home game (2-3 hour round trip) - my youngest son (12) asked me after the Huddersfield game (after watching Stoke decline for the last 2/3 years), “Do we have to support Stoke?”

My heart sank at that point....

I will always be a Stokie, no matter how bad it gets, but is it fair to “force” my children to be the same?
I decided the answer is YES! And the Swansea game has confirmed my view that sticking with something, even when it appears to get worse (over a long period!), is a life lesson my kids will be rewarded for when they enter adult life.

Persistence definitely does pay and we will rise again! C’mon Stoke!!!

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Matthew Bennett: Why haven't they publicly backed or sacked him? fans and Jones need a bit of clarification from Coates and the board not radio silence.

I think, in a time when there is plenty that most people can’t agree on, that seems to be a common theme.

It’s something that Gerald Sinstadt has touched on in his column today and Gary Rowett said over the weekend.

It’s not really being sensationalist, is it?

I should say, however, that Jones himself has gone way beyond the normal praise you would expect from any manager for the board.

He has openly admitted that he would have been gone a long time before at another club and said on Saturday: “The board have been fantastic. They’ve given me patience, more than results have deserved.

“People who work for the club will see what we have done under it.

“Not radio presenters. Not people that just see a Saturday. But that’s what everyone sees and that’s why they comment like they do.”

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Dave F, Longton: How does Saturday's away end mental compare to ones you've seen before?

It’s a long time since I’ve seen a mental like that, Dave.

If you scroll down, we’ve been asking on social media for suggestions of the best ever - because it’ll be up there with ones that will be remembered.

Sidibe v Villa, Wayne Thomas v Arsenal, Stein at Vale, Lawrence at Coventry?

We’re going to put together a gallery of all the suggestions and, trust me, it’ll put you in a very good mood.

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Get involved: your verdict on Stoke City

Ollie, Luton: It is becoming quite clear that Coates (whichever one) and the board see Jones as a long term project. So why can they not just come out and make a statement to this effect?

The enforced silence is only causing more of a media circus which is the last thing we need. It’s time for them to show some quality in leadership themselves and publicly, irrevocably back their manager (of course unless we end up on a 10 match losing streak).
It’s really poor form from the Coates family and not how I would expect my club to behave to any of their employees. A “model” club we are not right now.
Something simple like, “We are in this for the long haul, we do understand it is a results based business, and results have been lacking of late. We understand sometimes hard decisions have to be made, and these will have to be made again. However we can see behind the scenes the tremendous work Nathan is doing, we can see the positivity in the performances on the pitch, and days like Saturday we are sure will become more regular in the future. Nathan is our man and is a long term investment.” would suffice.
Just stop the pathetic media circus and “ITK” rubbish which is winding supporters, pundits et al up to believe we are changing, when it is obvious we are not.

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Steve, Clayton: Where does this leave Nathan Jones? Will he be in charge for the next game?

Thanks Steve.

It’s tempting to say we’ve come to expect the unexpected at Stoke but one thing we know with complete certainty is that Nathan Jones isn’t just expecting to be in charge against Fulham, he is actively looking forward to it.

He’s cursing the timing of the international break - but in all honesty, I’m not!

I’ve felt drained from the last few days so goodness knows how Jones has felt.

What a relief to be able to rest on the back of a superb result and performance on Saturday, I would say easily the best of 2019. There’s not much competition for that, admittedly, but there we go.

Are we back to square one if Stoke lose their next match or the one after? We’ll see - or hopefully not.

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