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Swansea City v Newcastle United Preview | Key Men, Stats and Team News

These two sides have had very differing starts to the season with Swansea getting three wins from their first three matches, while Newcastle have yet to pick up a win this campaign. Both sides will have had hopes for a top ten finish this season, but how you start is crucial in a league like the Premier League as form has a huge effect on matches, therefore it’s difficult to see Newcastle achieving the top ten finish, however Swansea have a great chance. The signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson appears to be a masterstroke as he has started from exactly where he left off in the 2011/12 campaign at Swansea.

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Swansea have started the season well and find themselves in fifth place, which is lofty considering the pre season expectations. They haven’t won in three matches, but they will be seeing this weekend’s fixture as the perfect way to push on given the poor form of their opponents. Alan Pardew remains in the job at Newcastle, which will be a huge boost for Swansea as Newcastle look unmotivated and lazy under Pardew and a change in needed. On the other hand, Garry Monk has the full support at Swansea and has brought back the feel good factor after the disappointing end to Michael Laudrup’s reign.

The away side have had a disastrous start and they have only won five times in 2014 in the league and it is now October, that record is worse than simple relegation form, it is relegated by March form. It’s obvious a managerial change is needed and it’s a matter of when rather than if Alan Pardew gets the boot. His contract situation is an issue, but Mike Ashley will not want Newcastle losing their Premier League status given the financial rewards that come from it. The new signings have yet to settle, while injuries have played a part in Newcastle’s poor form.

Last season, Swansea did the double over Newcastle, winning 3-0 in the corresponding fixture in South Wales with Nathan Dyer, Jonjo Shelvey and Mathieu Debuchy (og) on the scoresheet for Swansea. While a Wilfired Bony double secured a 2-1 win at St James’ Park after Shola Ameobi opened the scoring for Newcastle.

Interesting Stats

Only Stoke and Southampton have conceded less goals than Swansea, who have only conceded six goals this season.

Newcastle’s total of 3 points from the opening 6 matches is worse than the start to the season in 2008/9 when they were relegated. They had 4 points at the same stage.

Key Men

Sigurdsson

Gylfi Sigurdsson may turn out to be one of the best signings of the summer after rejoining Swansea. He never fully settled at Spurs in terms of gaining first team football, but he still managed to score his fair share of goals at White Hart Lane. This season he has already contributed a goal and four assists, showing the value he has in the final third of the pitch, especially when it comes to creating chances. He will be given license to go forward by Swansea, especially at home in matches at the Swans will need to dominate. This weekend they’ll look to the Icelandic midfielder for inspiration as Newcastle have looked very shaky at the back, and Sigurdsson has the quality to cut them open several times over the afternoon. If he plays well, then it will surely lead to Swansea returning to winning ways.

Cisse

All summer long Newcastle United were crying out for a new centre forward, but one wasn’t forthcoming and now they are relying on the talents of Emmanuel Riviere and Papiss Cisse. The latter looks more likely to make an impact in the Premier League, due to his experience at this level. That showed against Hull City as the striker came off the bench to score two well taken goals, while against Stoke his movement looked dangerous once again. Newcastle fans want to see more attacking impetus from their team, but Pardew seems unwilling to try two up front, despite the 4-2-3-1 formation looking like it will never lead to a victory. This weekend, Pardew needs to start with Cisse as he looks the more likely to trouble the scoresheet in the Premier League. He has played well at Swansea in the past, netting two wonderful goals in his first season in England.

Team News

Jordi Amat, Ryan Donnelly and Leon Britton are all on the long term injury list for Garry Monk, and they aren’t expected back until next month. Jonjo Shelvey should start after being called into the England squad this week, while Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge will be keen to play well after being snubbed by Roy Hodgson once again. Angel Rangel will be suspended after seeing red against Sunderland. Wilfried Bony may start after missing out last week, the Ivorian has yet to score in the league this season.

Ryan Taylor made his comeback after two years out injured in a behind closed doors friendly, but he is unlikely to return to the first team set up yet. Rolando Aarons, Siem de Jong and Davide Santon remain on the long term injury list and won’t be back for some time yet. Adam Armstrong could feature this weekend, after impressing in the Capital One Cup last week. He didn’t play against Stoke, but he could bring the attacking threat the side desperately needs. Gabriel Obertan is pushing for a start after impressing in a cameo against Stoke on Monday.

Betting

Jonjo Shelvey is always at risk to get a booking given his poor discipline. In last season’s fixture he was lucky not to be sent off after he headbutted Mathieu Debuchy. If you fancy him to get booked this weekend, you can get odds of 4.70 with Tailorbet.

Bet here – http://eplindex.wpengine.com/tailorbet.

Verdict

It’s difficult to see Alan Pardew turning it around at Newcastle, and surely he has to leave his post soon, whether through resigning or getting the sack. His side lacked passion on Monday and it’s unlikely they will be reinvigorated this weekend. Swansea haven’t looked great in the last couple of weeks but a home game against a side that doesn’t look like they care offers the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways. I expect the pace of the Swansea attack to be too much for Newcastle to deal with and surely a defeat this weekend will spell the end for Alan Pardew at Newcastle United.

Swansea City 3-0 Newcastle United

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