reporters Swansea 3-0 Newcastle
guardian
Newcastle United's four-match winning run was brought to an abrupt end on a bitterly cold evening in south Wales as Swansea City, inspired by Jonjo Shelvey, recorded a rare and much-needed home victory. Nathan Dyer's well-struck volley at the end of the first half, followed by a own goal from Mathieu Debuchy and a brilliant third from Shelvey, allowed Swansea to celebrate three points at the Liberty Stadium for only the second time in 12 matches.
It was a frustrating night for Newcastle but Swansea looked the much more accomplished team and in Shelvey they possessed the outstanding player on the pitch. The former Liverpool midfielder was at the heart of all of Swansea's best moments and he rounded off a fine individual performance with a superb goal. Receiving a square pass from Dyer, Shelvey swept a 25-yard shot beyond Tim Krul, who had denied him moments earlier, and into the top corner.
For all Swansea's possession and neat passing in the early stages - and there were some lovely interchanges and flicks to enjoy during that period - it was Newcastle, with their first meaningful attack of the game, who came closest to taking the lead. Debuchy delivered a cross from the right that picked out Loïc Rémy, whose textbook downward header was destined for the bottom corner of the net until Michel Vorm, returning to the side after a knee problem, made a superb one-handed save to keep the ball out.
Swansea's lack of penetration was not helped by the absence through injury of Michu and Wilfried Bony, who have scored 16 goals between them this season. Alvaro Vázquez, a loan signing from Getafe, was thrust into the central-striking role but lasted only 29 minutes before limping off with a groin strain. The Spaniard's 13 appearances for the club the majority from the bench have failed to yield a goal.
Dyer, Vázquez's replacement, took little time to make his mark. On the stroke of half-time Alejandro Pozuelo whipped in a left-footed centre that had Krul frantically back-pedalling and stretching every sinew to get a hand on the ball. The Newcastle goalkeeper could only succeed, however, in palming the ball into the area where Dyer was loitering, just outside the six-yard box, and the winger finished ruthlessly, hammering a first-time volley into the empty net.
Newcastle pressed for an equaliser. Shola Ameobi's volley was comfortably saved by Vorm, Rémy should have done better with a free header and the Newcastle striker also had appeals for a penalty turned down when a shot struck Ben Davies on his hand. Another penalty shout this time Yoan Gouffran alleging he had been pushed by Ashley Williams culminated in Swansea's second.
Sprinting clear on to Pozuelo's pass, Shelvey was about to shoot when Debuchy tackled him from behind, the ball came back off Krul's legs, struck the Newcastle defender and ended up in the back of the net. Shelvey later got his reward, with a beauty eight minutes from time.
It was a frustrating night for Newcastle but Swansea looked the much more accomplished team and in Shelvey they possessed the outstanding player on the pitch. The former Liverpool midfielder was at the heart of all of Swansea's best moments and he rounded off a fine individual performance with a superb goal. Receiving a square pass from Dyer, Shelvey swept a 25-yard shot beyond Tim Krul, who had denied him moments earlier, and into the top corner.
For all Swansea's possession and neat passing in the early stages - and there were some lovely interchanges and flicks to enjoy during that period - it was Newcastle, with their first meaningful attack of the game, who came closest to taking the lead. Debuchy delivered a cross from the right that picked out Loïc Rémy, whose textbook downward header was destined for the bottom corner of the net until Michel Vorm, returning to the side after a knee problem, made a superb one-handed save to keep the ball out.
Swansea's lack of penetration was not helped by the absence through injury of Michu and Wilfried Bony, who have scored 16 goals between them this season. Alvaro Vázquez, a loan signing from Getafe, was thrust into the central-striking role but lasted only 29 minutes before limping off with a groin strain. The Spaniard's 13 appearances for the club the majority from the bench have failed to yield a goal.
Dyer, Vázquez's replacement, took little time to make his mark. On the stroke of half-time Alejandro Pozuelo whipped in a left-footed centre that had Krul frantically back-pedalling and stretching every sinew to get a hand on the ball. The Newcastle goalkeeper could only succeed, however, in palming the ball into the area where Dyer was loitering, just outside the six-yard box, and the winger finished ruthlessly, hammering a first-time volley into the empty net.
Newcastle pressed for an equaliser. Shola Ameobi's volley was comfortably saved by Vorm, Rémy should have done better with a free header and the Newcastle striker also had appeals for a penalty turned down when a shot struck Ben Davies on his hand. Another penalty shout this time Yoan Gouffran alleging he had been pushed by Ashley Williams culminated in Swansea's second.
Sprinting clear on to Pozuelo's pass, Shelvey was about to shoot when Debuchy tackled him from behind, the ball came back off Krul's legs, struck the Newcastle defender and ended up in the back of the net. Shelvey later got his reward, with a beauty eight minutes from time.
