Newcastle United are on the ropes at the moment. Alan Pardew looks like he’s one big loss away from losing his job, and there is mass discontent amongst the fans. Could there be a better time to play them? Nathan Lewis takes his weekly look back at the last four matches between these sides...
We should be looking to win this one, at a canter. But how have we fared against Pardew’s men in recent history? Let’s take a look at this week’s #FlashbackFour
17th November 2012 - Premier League
Newcastle 1-2 Swansea
With each look back at the Laudrup era, I have increasingly come to realise that Itay Shechter played much more football than should have been allowed. This match at St. James’ Park was the first start for the mystifying Israeli striker, and you will be unsurprised to find out that he did not trouble the scoreboard. Swansea had the best of the first-half chances, with Dyer, Michu and Pablo all giving Tim Krul something to worry about.
It wasn’t a one-way game however, with Hatem Ben Arfa seeing plenty of the ball, both creating chances and taking shots himself. Despite an early scare in the second-half, Pablo capitalised on a poor Tim Krul clearance to cross, allowing Michu to head home for his eighth goal of the season. We easily could have scored a couple more, but the points were eventually wrapped up in the 87th minute, after Krul was unable to hold a Danny Graham shot, De Guzman popping up to score the Swans’ second. Demba Ba kept us on our toes by scoring a stoppage-time header, but it wasn’t enough to stop us securing our first win over Newcastle in 32 years.
2nd March 2013 - Premier League
Swansea 1-0 Newcastle
In our first game following the 5-0 demolition of League Two Bradford in the Capital One Cup final, Michael Laudrup was hoping that we would be able to stay focussed on league football. This victory pushed us past 40 points, effectively securing our Premiership status for another year. Little were we to know that we would only win one more game in the remainder of the season. It was a nervy affair at the Liberty, with both sides having plenty of chances.
Both teams worked hard, but ultimately couldn’t find their way past either keeper, until in the 85th minute Routs’ cross found its way to Luke Moore. Moore was able to turn in the Newcastle box, before stabbing an effort goalwards. A weak effort, only taken in to the net because of Yohan Cabaye’s last-ditch tackle, meaning the ball flopped over Rob Elliott to give Swansea the three points.
4th December 2013 - Premier League
Swansea 3-0 Newcastle
We entered this match with something of an injury crisis on our hands. Wilfried and Michu were both unavailable through injury, meaning Alvaro ‘Spanish Itay Shechter’ Vasquez started up front against Pardew’s side. Our injury problems were heightened by Vazquez limping off after twenty-nine minutes, meaning that Nathan Dyer was brought on, and he, Shelvey, Pozuelo and Hernandez seemed to take turns playing through the middle. This caused Newcastle problems, and just before half-time Pozuelo, in one of his more effective performances, crossed to find Dyer who volleyed powerfully to score the first goal of the night.
We rarely looked like losing control for the rest of the game, with Jonjo Shelvey eventually bursting through the middle to take on Tim Krul. His shot was parried by Krul, but fortunately struck Mathieu Debuchy and bounced into the empty net. Quite a strange goal, that one, but his third goal was a thing of beauty. Jonjo capped an impressive performance by scoring with a wonderful strike that Krul was unable to keep out. I believe my exact words were “Jonjo..no! Great goal.”
19th April 2014 - Premier League
Newcastle 1-2 Swansea
Premier League safety seemed a much closer reality following this win in Newcastle. Despite going one down, I always felt that we would get something out of this game. Poor defending allowed Shola Ameobi to give Newcastle the lead completely against the run of play, before Bony scored twice to secure all three points for the Swans. His first came from a Ben Davies corner - one of those rare occurrences where a corner clears the first man - and his second was a perfectly converted penalty. It seemed like we were settling for a point, before Marvin Emnes picked up the ball and weaved into the penalty box, and was absolutely clattered by Cheick Tiote.
Two interesting moments came from this match. The first comedic, Chris Foy receiving a ball to the face, which eventually resulted in fourth official Anthony Taylor taking over. The second seemed more definitive: having dispatched the match-winning penalty, Bony looked to the away end and pointed to the floor. What did it mean? “That’s what I do”? “I’m here to stay”? “I like this grass”? Who knows…? But it certainly felt like the big Ivorian was stamping his mark on the Premiership.
Overall record v Newcastle (Last four games)
Games Played: 4
Wins: 4
Draws: 0
Losses: 0
Goals scored: 8
Goals Conceded: 2
Well well well, a 100% record. Not too shabby, boys. Even allowing for natural Swansea fan pessimism, we should come into Saturday’s game with considerable confidence. We have only lost once in our six Premiership meetings with Newcastle, and our defensive record suggests that we have very little to worry about in terms of the Geordie’s strikeforce. Add in the unrest and speculation around Pardew’s position, and it seems a perfect time to play the Toon Army. Then again, this is Swansea we’re talking about… It’s never that easy.
My prediction: Swansea 2-0 Newcastle
Thanks as usual to Nathan for the weekly Flashback Four - give him a follow on Twitter @NathDavidLewis - Don't forget to check out our in-depth preview of the match here - link