Swansea v Newcastle – Premier League match preview

Swans v Magpies
Swans v Magpies
Newcastle United travel deep into Wales tomorrow where they will make only their third ever visit to Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium.

We’ve not done too badly on our previous two trips to the Liberty, with a 1-1 draw being registered in the Championship followed up with a 2-0 victory there last season.

However Swansea are a tough nut to crack these days, arguably tougher than they have ever been. They’ve recently won their first major trophy in the shape of the League Cup and Michael Laudrup has installed a “tough to beat” mentality whilst retaining the attractive passing game that was started by Robert Martinez. Aided by the goalscoring exploits of Michu, who is joint 3rd highest league goalscorer this term, Swansea go in search of a first league double over United since 1980.

Newcastle:

Hatem Ben Arfa may only feature in a cameo role after Alan Pardew revealed that he is less than impressed with the physical condition of the Frenchman. The original five week estimate of Tim Krul’s absence appears to be true so Rob Elliot will continue in goal with youngster Jak Alnwick deputising in the absence of the injured Steve Harper.

Fabricio Coloccini is officially doubtful after injuring his back against Southampton although it’s since transpired that the injury could be worse than first feared and we could be without Colo for a matter of weeks rather than days.

Ryan Taylor and Dan Gosling are nearing their comebacks, with the former eyeing a return against Southampton and the latter making an appearance on the bench for the recent Europa League match against Metalist Kharkiv.

Shane Ferguson and Sammy Ameobi are now both out on loan to Birmingham and Middlesbrough respectively so are obviously unavailable, and they are likely to be joined by other youngsters going out on loan in the near future.

Swansea:

Neil Taylor and Chico Flores are missing for Michael Laudrup who otherwise has a full squad to choose from for the visit of the Magpies.

Previously…

As mentioned earlier, Swansea are looking for a league double over United after their 2-1 victory at St James’ Park earlier on in the season. However United historically have the better record home and away against the Welsh side.

There have been 32 games played between the two sides in all competitions with Newcastle coming out on top on 19 occasions compared to just 9 for Swansea. There have been 4 draws between the two sides.

At Swansea (Liberty Stadium and previously at Vetch Field) there have been 15 matches played between the two sides. Newcastle have won 9, Swansea have won 5 with the the one remaining game ending in a draw. However despite the one-sided nature of results between the two in Swansea, both teams have scored exactly the same amount of goals against each other (23) at a rate of 1.53 goals per game.

Stats and facts:

Mike Williamson could make his 100th appearance for United, assuming he makes the bench in the place of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa who will more than likely replace Fabricio Coloccini in the starting line up.

Gabriel Obertan could make his 50th career Premier League appearance.

Much has been made of Papiss Cisse being offside “all the time” but he isn’t the worst culprit in the league. The Senegal striker is caught offside an average of 1.1 times per game. Christian Benteke is the worst offside offender in the league getting caught out an average of 1.7 times per game.

Swansea have not lost a game after taking the lead this season. In fact they’ve only dropped the three points once by drawing one solitary game after taking the lead.

United have lost twice in the last eight games in all competitions while Swansea have won just three times in their last 12 league games.

Final thought…

We’ve looked a lot better in recent weeks and the gap between us and the teams at the bottom of the table is slowly getting bigger. However Swansea will give us a thorough examination and we’ll need to be up for it if we want to continue our upwards momentum.

Will Swansea have a hangover from their League Cup win? Will that victory spur them on and give them some extra impetus? I’m hoping it is the former but I somehow don’t think Brain Laudrup will allow it and we may struggle to come away with a point, which personally I’d be delighted with.

Howay the lads!

Date: Saturday, 2nd March, 2013

Time: 3pm

Venue: Liberty Stadium

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

96 thoughts on “Swansea v Newcastle – Premier League match preview

  1. Back to Newcastle
    A lot of players on loan now, good to see IMO, will get the experience that they’re unlikely to get here just now.

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  2. Andy don’t worry mate I wouldn’t hold it against you as I do understand that some people do find it a bit how do you put it ? intimidating etc ❓ 😉

    Yeah it’s about time that the younguns got some valuable game time as it’s the only way they’ll get better

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  3. Dave
    That’s pretty much it. Don’t mind it in moderation mind, and have thought about having one myself. Youngsters are gaining valuable game time in a competitive system. Even the SPL which many diss on here is a big step up from reserve footie and hones passing and positional sense.

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  4. Andy @ 73 you would think i’m a real thug then 😆 😆

    I have to admit i’m one of the ones that diss SPL as I do think the Championship is a better level but even the SPL is better than the reserves etc

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  5. Evening lads ,day of decorating out for a steak and Lewis is doing well and just to put the cream on the cake that piece of ***** Ranger is no more 😀 😀 oh boy happy days.

    Robert@5 and Alex@6 Agree totally .
    Steve p@28, Interesting ,not so bad as people seem to think then.
    G2 @29 ,Seems to me he should be staying in the uk for medical care and fitness training.

    Ice@34 ,Got to agree about PEA joining us .

    Andy@35 ,Congratulations on your Stirling place ,well done mate 😎 😀

    Reckon we’ll do well to draw tommorow ,hopefull they’re midfield will find Sissoko ,Cabs and Goofy too hot to handle when supplying Cisse. I see Colo doesn’t travel ,nice chance for Mbiwa to stake a claimon the cb slot.

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  6. Cheers Kim 😉 , glad to here Lewis is better as well. Great day today, Ranger gone, dad booked stoke tickets and an unconditional :mrgreen:

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  7. I’m sure I wouldn’t Dave 😉
    Top half of SPL is championship standard at least, the rest is more league 1.

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  8. Andy ,nowt wrong with tatts ,so long as they are done well and the customer thinks about what they are having inked. It’s when people get one done without proper thought like my daughter did 🙄 .It’s cost her over a grand to get it lasered off and if you really look you can still see faint bits 🙁 . Shame really as in a better place with a nicer tatt wouldn’t have been a problem.
    I actually like tatts ,often thought about getting my kids names done , I’m probably too old now though 😆

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  9. Kim glad to hear Lewis is on the mend, not so glad about you and your steak but then i’m just about to get a chinese 😀 so i’ll let you off with that, and yeah Ranger is the icing on the cake 😉
    Reet im out catch you’s tomorrow

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  10. Hi guys not been on for a while , great new that we have got shot of Ranger . Things just seem to be getting better and better for us 😀

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  11. Just catching up with some of the posts.

    Andymag – not a bad day there buddy 😉 . Congrats on your place at Stirling Uni as well, excellent that mate. What you studying?

    Fantastic news about Ranger, way way way overdue in my opinion, but good things come to those who wait. Paves the way for a couple of CFs in the summer with him and Xisco leaving – would love one to be PEA.

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  12. SHARPY17 @15

    Yeah. It’s a 3 game deal mate. There is also a 5 game plus Anzi deal which includes Liverpool, Arsenal and Sunderland. I haven’t got the balls for Liverpoop and Sunderland, I don’t think I would enjoy it at all unless we won. I get too worked up about it, just a game at the end of the day. 😛

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