Swansea City ended Newcastle United's run of four straight victories with a 3-0 win at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday night. The Swans didn't relinquish the lead after taking it in stoppage time at the end of the first half, ensuring only their second home victory of the Premier League season.
Swansea City vs. Newcastle United: Final score 3-0, Swans end Magpies winning streak
Newcastle United’s run of four straight victories came to an abrupt end at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday night.
Michael Steele
More from our team sites
It was the Swans who were applying the pressure in the early exchanges, though despite seeing much of possession, they struggled to carve out chances. It was their opponents who created the first clear-cut opportunity of the game on a quick break down the right, though Michel Vorm made a fantastic save after Yoan Gouffran nodded Mathieu Debuchy's cross goalwards.
Swansea responded with an ambitious attempt from striker Álvaro Vázquez, which flashed across the face of Tim Krul's goal and wide of the target. The young Spaniard was replaced only a few minutes later though injury, and with both Michu and Wilfried Bony sidelined, left the hosts without a proper striker on the field.
However, that didn't stop them taking the lead in stoppage time at the end of the first half. In fact, it was Álvaro's very replacement, Nathan Dyer, who got to Krul's weak punch first, lashing the ball in on the volley from close range to give the hosts the lead on the stroke of halftime.
Newcastle had a good chance to equalize soon after the restart, though Shola Ameobi scuffed his shot from inside the area and allowed Vorm to make a comfortable save. Five minutes later his teammate Loïc Rémy was gifted a free header, though his attempt flew over the bar. For all of their urgency, the Magpies' finishing was letting them down badly. With 25 minutes left, they were made to pay.
With Newcastle high up the field appealing for a penalty, Swansea charged down the other end and sliced through the visitors' defence. Jonjo Shelvey found himself through on goal, and though Debuchy managed to make up the ground, he ended up getting the last touch before the ball rolled into the net.
There was no way back for an ever-more frustrated Newcastle, with Swansea looking to add to their two goals. Chico Flores somehow looped a header high when practically stood on the goalline, before a smart stop from Krul clawed away a curling Shelvey effort from outside the box. Eventually they did have a third, with the troublesome Shelvey finally adding the icing to the cake just inside the final 10 minutes.
Swansea City: Vorm; Davies, Williams, Chico, Tiendalli; de Guzmán, Cañas; Hernández (Lamah 71’), Shelvey, Pozuelo (Routledge 84’); Álvaro (Dyer 29’).
Goals: Dyer (45+1’), Debuchy o.g. (66’), Shelvey (81’).
Newcastle United: Krul; Santon (Haïdara 56’), Coloccini, Williamson (Yanga-Mbiwa 77’), Debuchy; Gouffran, Cabaye, Tioté, Sissoko; Shola Ameobi (Obertan 67’), Rémy.
See More:
