By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
At the Liberty Stadium
Swansea City 2 (Gomis 9, Ayew 52)
Newcastle United 0
Ten-man Newcastle United suffered a 2-0 defeat at Swansea City in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.
A goal in each half from Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew earned all three points for the hosts at the Liberty Stadium, while United had to play for 49 minutes with a numerical disadvantage following a red card to defender Daryl Janmaat.
Swansea dominated the early exchanges and French front man Gomis beat the Magpies' offside trap to tuck home after just nine minutes - a lead they fully deserved.
The visitors attempted to get a foothold back in the contest, with Gabriel Obertan threatening on a handful of occasions, but Janmaat's dismissal for two yellow cards made that task even tougher.
And early in the second period, the Swans put the result beyond any doubt when Ayew glanced home a cross from the excellent Jefferson Montero.
Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren will be disappointed with his side's showing in South Wales, and will look for an improved performance - and result - at Manchester United next weekend.
Jonjo Shelvey offered the first shot of the afternoon in the third minute, cutting in off the left touchline past Massadio Haidara but sending a shot with the outside of his boot straight into the midriff of Tim Krul.
Soon after, Sigurdsson was teed up by Andre Ayew but, from 25 yards, he was unable to scoop the ball over Krul and into the top corner.
However, it was a case of third time lucky for the hosts, who finally broke the deadlock after nine minutes.
Shelvey threaded an inch-perfect pass into the path of Gomis, who had peeled off the shoulder of Chancel Mbemba, and the big Frenchman kept his composure to round Krul and tap into the empty net.
United attempted an immediate response but Obertan's right-footed effort was simple for Swans keeper Lukasz Fabianski to claim at his near post.
The Polish stopper was again called into action by Obertan in the 16th minute but this time the save was far from routine, as he flew full-length to his right to tip away the winger's drive, which looked to be on its way in.
Obertan was proving a bright spark for the visitors and almost conjured up an equaliser just past the half-hour mark, racing in behind the Swansea defence to meet Moussa Sissoko's pass, and cut the ball back into the path of Papiss Cisse. However, Federico Fernandez was on hand to clear just as the striker got set to pounce.
But four minutes before half-time, United's cause got even tougher as they were reduced to ten men.
Already on a caution for a foul on Montero, Janmaat tugged back the Ecuadorian forward as he jinked past him in the middle of the pitch, leaving referee Mike Jones with no choice but to issue a second yellow card.
Montero was having plenty of joy down the left touchline and immediately after the sending-off was inches away from doubling Swansea's advantage, cutting inside and drilling a low strike against the foot of the upright.
The woodwork came to Newcastle's rescue again early in the second half as Sigurdsson crashed a long range strike against the underside of the crossbar.
But they made it 2-0 on 52 minutes and it stemmed from the dangerous Montero, who got down the left and delivered a cross to the near post which Ayew - nipping ahead of Fabricio Coloccini - glanced home.
Just past the hour mark it was almost three - in an indentical move to the preceeding goal. Montero's cross was met by Ayew but the Ghanaian summer signing nodded well off target this time, much to the Magpies' relief.
With time running out, United's 1,300 travelling supporters came close to having something to cheer, when Steven Taylor flicked on Jack Colback's inswinging free-kick, but Mbemba was inches away from connecting at the far post.
Swansea City (4-2-3-1): Lukasz Fabianski; Kyle Naughton, Federico Fernandez, Ashley Williams (c), Neil Taylor; Jack Cork, Jonjo Shelvey; Andre Ayew (Nathan Dyer 71), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Leon Britton 86), Jefferson Montero (Wayne Routledge 76); Bafetimbi Gomis
Subs not used: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Angel Rangel, Kyle Bartley, Eder
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Massadio Haidara; Vurnon Anita, Jack Colback; Moussa Sissoko (Steven Taylor 46), Georginio Wijnaldum, Gabriel Obertan (Aleksandar Mitrovic 82); Papiss Cisse (Rolando Aarons 54)
Subs not used: Karl Darlow, Mike Williamson, Cheick Tiote, Ayoze Perez
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)
Bookings: Swansea City - Ayew (49), Naughton (61); Newcastle United - Janmaat (17, 41), Mitrovic (84)
Sendings off: Swansea CIty - none; Newcastle United - Janmaat (41)
Attendance: 20,678 (1,300 Newcastle)
