Swansea 0-1 Newcastle: Captain fantastic rallies a Rafa-less NUFC to a precious three points

Feels good doesn’t it! An organised and energetic display has earned us a precious three points and 1-0 win at Swansea this afternoon, with a thumping Jamaal Lascelles header being enough to hand us our first top flight victory on the road since December 2015.

Swansea started the game with a considerable amount of possession, however we kept our shape well and rarely looked like giving them any opportunities, even if we looked equally unlike scoring ourselves in the opening stages.

We remained organised, but grew into the game offensively however, with Joselu coming unbearably close to opening the scoring with a glanced header superbly saved by Fabianski.

It’s fair to say the eagerly anticipated debut of Swansea’s Renato Sanches did not go well, with the Portuguese sensation appearing way off the pace. The commentator alluded to the fact he’d surrendered possession on 14 occasions at one point, and it was still only the first half. In contrast, opposing midfielder Mikel Merino was sensational once again, showing his quality on the ball and effectiveness off it, winning back possession several times.

 

Collectively we looked organised and combative, rarely losing grip on a game we controlled without dominating. There were several positive displays, with Gamez, Clark, Merino and Joselu deserving mentions, however it was Lascelles who proved to be the key man.

Tammy Abraham looked all set to score having rounded the keeper after latching onto a clever Leroy Fer through ball, but Lascelles had not given up hope, recovering superbly to clear from a certain goal.

At the other end, less than 15 minutes later, he met a Matt Ritchie corner to emphatically head us into a 1-0 lead, and one we’d hold onto for another huge victory.

Events off the pitch may have hampered our momentum and the feel good factor created from the West Ham win, but that’s back to back wins and clean sheets, a victory over potential rivals and a precious away win that takes us up to 10th.

A great shift from the lads whose efforts and discipline would have pleased the absent Rafa Benitez.

Next stop, Stoke at St. James’ on Saturday!

 

NUFC XI: Elliot; Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Gamez; Merino, Hayden; Ritchie, Perez, Murphy; Joselu

Swansea XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandes, Mawson, Olsson; Clucas, Sanches, Carroll, Fer; Ayew, Abraham.

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

114 thoughts on “Swansea 0-1 Newcastle: Captain fantastic rallies a Rafa-less NUFC to a precious three points

  1. I’m saying that it’s not West Ham’s responsibility to pay back that money to the charities. It’s the government for creating the spin to do the deal in the first place to pay for the stadium. They knew there was a shortfall and that was the only way to get the money. It’s a political issue not a football issue.

    I’m not fully up to speed with the West Ham lease agreement but I think they only get the stadium on match days? So it can still be used for athletics, concerts and other events for the rest of the year and presumably any revenue goes to the government for this? So it’s not the same as just giving them a stadium to do whatever they like with.

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  2. http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/b5wp/2017/194/en/

    No comments when I posted this before? This is pretty important I’d say. It shows that we have spent more in assembling our current squad (€162m) than Watford, West Brom, Stoke, Swansea, Burnley Brighton, Bournemouth and Huddersfield. Hardly the powerhouse of English football, but considering we’ve just been promoted, it’s not too shabby. It also shows how far away we are from the top 6 when Everton have spent over double that amount assembling their squad…

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  3. ToonDarnSarf:
    I’m saying that it’s not West Ham’s responsibility to pay back that money to the charities. It’s the government for creating the spin to do the deal in the first place to pay for the stadium. They knew there was a shortfall and that was the only way to get the money. It’s a political issue not a football issue.

    I’m not fully up to speed with the West Ham lease agreement but I think they only get the stadium on match days? So it can still be used for athletics, concerts and other events for the rest of the year and presumably any revenue goes to the government for this? So it’s not the same as just giving them a stadium to do whatever they like with.

    It pretty much IS like giving them the stadium. What else is SJP used for? Or Old Trafford? The odd concert or Rugby match that might generate a million or 2 at most which in the scheme of things is not much when Wayne Rooney gets paid 10 million a year.

    The slight inconvenience of letting the stadium be used for a couple of athletic meets a year, makes up the 750 million Spurs are spending and West Ham are not?

    And Karen Brady is not a politician with influence who was bought by the Bongo Bros?

    TDS: you have been brainwashed by the journalists at the Southern papers who all have a collective **** about West Ham.

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  4. No politics in that deal for the Olympic Stadium. Baroness Karren Brady of Knightsbridge (for that is her name) did the deal for the Bongo Bros after working for them at The Sport (porn) newspaper, Birmingham City and West Ham.

    Would you rather spend 2.5 million a year or 750 million up front?

    TDS: as I said, I have a bridge that I will sell you.

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  5. Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge. One of the key speakers at Tory conferences. Next you will tell me that Thatcher wasn’t a politician.

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  6. Icedog:
    http://www.footballinsider247.com/newcastle-talks-defender-stunning-start-pl-season-report/

    Good move imo

    Ice – it’s a move they have to make IMO. Last season everyone raved about Ben Gibson, Michael Keane and Harry Maguire. I’m amazed that Gibson is still at Boro personally, but the other 2 both moved in the summer for over £15m.
    I think Lascelles is a top CB and he reminds me a bit of a young Kompany – I’m not saying he’s as good as him yet – he just reminds me of him & with good coaching, who knows.

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  7. What amazes me is that when the Olympic Stadium and Wembley are built at a combined cost of 1.5 Billion Pounds, Billion!!! then it is seen as patriotic and not a handout. But it is fine to kick someone out of public housing because their kids move out. We live in a perverse world where scum and manipulators like The Davids and Baroness Bradey succeed (and the Fatman BTW, zero hours, slave Asian labour). It has always been this way, but it doesn’t mean it is good.

    Really, why were those 2 stadiums built in London on taxpayers money? London doesn’t need subsidizing or a boost. Why not Birmingham? There are plenty of hotels there and it is a short commute or train ride from London (by American standards anyway) and a walk up the street to get a tinnie by Aussie standards.

    C’mon Huddersfield.

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  8. ToonDarnSarf:
    http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/b5wp/2017/194/en/

    No comments when I posted this before? This is pretty important I’d say. It shows that we have spent more in assembling our current squad (€162m) than Watford, West Brom, Stoke, Swansea, Burnley Brighton, Bournemouth and Huddersfield. Hardly the powerhouse of English football, but considering we’ve just been promoted, it’s not too shabby. It also shows how far away we are from the top 6 when Everton have spent over double that amount assembling their squad…

    The real shocker there TDS is that just about every other team in the top 30 has actually won something in the last 50 years. Not sure about Shalke and Wolfsburg but that is because of Bayern.

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  9. Everton will not finish in the top half. You do not replace a 25 goal striker with a potato. Unless and until Koeman realizes this they will struggle.

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  10. Andy Carroll is an absolute monster up front like. If he could stay fit he’d be one of the best CFs in the league.

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  11. I dont particularly have an issue with West Ham. Quite like Bilic as well so hope they do OK. Its Palace I have no time for.

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  12. You are too young to have seen the way the press used to suck up to West Ham, their academy and how they won England the world cup. There are MPs trying to get Bobby Moore a posthumous knighthood which I actually agree with but think they should have added Bob Paisley to that ticket.

    Not sure if I agree with the honours system but if you have it then they should go to deserving people and not the Chairman of Bank of Scotland.

    How did we lose to Huddersfield? They haven’t been out of their own half yet.

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  13. Yeah fair one Eric. We all have different prejudices based on experiences in our own lifetime.

    I dont agree with posthumous knighthoods. Whats the point? The guy is dead. He aint gona appreciate it!

    Posthumous pardons is another matter, in the right circumstances.

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  14. Knighthoods should be reserved for groundbreaking Scientists, Doctors and people who donate their lives to helping others.

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  15. I want a draw between West Ham and Huddersfield. They will both be in the mix for relegation. Hopefully, we wont but I am not so sure, so the more the merrier at the bottom.

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  16. There’s another reason I dislike West Ham. Totally spurious reasoning. But, back in the day the commentators would always mention that Sir Trevor of Brooking had 10 O levels. Like he was the only footballer with a brain. They mentioned it so often that it stuck with me. It shouldn’t have got on my nerves but I thought it was yet more evidence of the footballing media bias towards West Ham. Just about all of my friends in England have 10 O levels so it can’t be that special.

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  17. At least Bilic wont get sacked this week. Every cloud has a silver lining. Except in Huston and Florida.

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  18. Dubai Toon:
    Only one comment today? Is there another article we’ve missed?

    No mate no other thread,just seems very quiet,might start picking up when Eric arrives on site

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  19. Icedog: No mate no other thread,just seems very quiet,might start picking up when Eric arrives on site

    Yeah Ice, I just checked the home page to be sure… I guess not too much to chat about. Team are doing well and nothing for people to whinge about.. lol

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  20. There are a few reputations suffering in The Championship. ‘Arry has 4 points from 7 games at Brum. Brucie has 7 from 7 and Sunderland are sinking like a stone. Time for the Mackems to give Pards a call.

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  21. Eric Sykes:
    There are a few reputations suffering in The Championship. ‘Arry has 4 points from 7 games at Brum. Brucie has 7 from 7 and Sunderland are sinking like a stone. Time for the Mackems to give Pards a call.

    It’s a bloody funny old tough lge mate takes no prisoners

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  22. Well Mr. Roy is touting his England record now. 7 losses in 56 games sounds OK until you dig deeper. We were knocked out of the Group in the WC and then probably had the easiest Group at the Euros and almost fcked that up only to lose to Iceland. He did get us through qualifying which is more than MCClaren did, but we had very easy qualifiers, just like now with Southgate.

    He is trying to reinvent history thinking we would not remember:

    * that he went on a river cruise with Lewington instead of scouting Iceland.

    * that he let Rooney run the team and Harry Kane take corners.

    * that he shamefully had his resignation letter prepared and in his pocket.

    * that he didn’t want to be at the press conference to explain the debacle, wondering “why am I here”?

    England were bang average but losing to Iceland is inexcusable and letting Rooney choose where he wanted to play was even worse. If he wants to rewrite history then he should ask Troy Stavers because he predicted England would win the Euros and then backtracked.

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  23. Ice: and whilst I am ranting about has-beens- will ‘Arry get his usual free ride from his pals in the press? Will they even bring it up or sweep it under the rug? He sticks his head out a car window and gives them a soundbite and can do no wrong. Time to join fellow West Ham alumni Pards in the Sky Sport studio.

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  24. ERIC that’s what gets my goat and the press as a group they do have certain favourites that are untouchable no matter what,it stinks

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  25. For all the hand wringing and moaning about us having a Championship team I don’t think we have played too badly. Spurs are the only top half team we have seen but you never know what you will get in the PL now. I watched Arsenal/Liverpool and then Man City/Liverpool and Arsenal/Bournemouth. You wouldn’t know it was the same players from week to week it changed that much. So, I’m not giving up on those types of games although I think Citeh and Chelsea will be a bit of a stretch.

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  26. And I don’t know what the team will be for Stoke. After pre-season if you were asked who would be the first players on the team sheet you would probably say Gayle, Shelvey, Lejuene, Clark, Yedlin and Ritchie. Now what?

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  27. Eric Sykes:
    And I don’t know what the team will be for Stoke. After pre-season if you were asked who would be the first players on the team sheet you would probably say Gayle, Shelvey, Lejuene, Clark, Yedlin and Ritchie. Now what?

    I quite like that though Eric, if we aren’t sure of the line up then the opposition could be scratching their heads too. 😉

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  28. In the reserves game last night

    Lee Ryder‏Verified account
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    Great skills from Cal Roberts to find an opening before he’s upended. No foul says the ref! #nufc

    Can’t even get a pen in a reserve game it seems

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