Match Review: Swansea City vs. Newcastle United

Newcastle United will look to rebound from a tough loss to Stoke City when they face Swansea City on Saturday at Liberty Stadium. The Magpies still remain without a league win this season.

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Alan Pardew remains at the helm of Newcastle despite the teams struggles since the beginning of 2014. The club has only won five of 25 Premier League matches in that time.

They will need to overcome a confident Swansea side that has had a positive start to the campaign. The Swans have 10 points through their first six matches and currently sit in fifth position in the table. They are coming off a scoreless draw with Sunderland last weekend.

Swansea won both league contests between these two clubs last season. The Welsh club has won the last four meetings between these two clubs overall.

Injuries and Suspensions

Newcastle’s terrible injury crisis continues. Jonas Gutiérrez, Robert Taylor and Siem de Jong are all out long-term due to various injuries. Rolando Aarons is expected back in November after injuring his hamstring.

Adam Campbell is recovering from hernia surgery and is expected to be out longer. Davide Santon is still at least a few weeks away from his return as well. Mehdi Abeid will be available after serving a one-match suspension.

For Swansea, English midfielder Leon Britton is yet to play this season because of a knee injury. He is expected to be out longer. Spanish defender Jordi Amat will also be unavailable because of a knee injury. Àngel Rangel was sent off last weekend against Sunderland and will be suspended against Newcastle.

Possible Tactics

Alan Pardew once again went with the familiar 4-2-3-1 formation against Stoke City in Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat. The Magpies are in desperate need of inspiration. Perhaps a change to a 4-4-2 is in the cards.

Swansea manager Garry Monk has consistently chosen the 4-2-3-1 this season for his club. And it appears to be paying off. The Swans will not score a lot of goals but they can frustrate their opponents with their neat passing and defensive awareness.

Swansea have conceded six goals in as many matches this season, only two clubs have conceded less. The club continues to have a very underrated midfield, having added Gylfi Sigurðsson this summer.

Although problems remain up front. No striker has scored a league goal for Swansea so far this season. Wilfried Bony scored 17 goals last campaign but has been silenced so far. While former Newcastle target Bafetimbi Gomis is yet to settle in England as well, going goalless in five matches.

Prediction

Swansea City have won two of their first three league matches at home this season. The only blemish was a 1-0 loss to Southampton on September 20th. The club does not concede many goals at home. The Swans have only given up more than one goal just once in their last 11 matches at home.

Newcastle United on the other hand, have only won once in their last 11 league matches away from home. Amazingly, they have not scored a single goal in nine of those matches. Overall, the club has only won once in their last 14 league matches.

Newcastle is desperate for a win on Saturday, which is always dangerous for any opposition. Pardew manages to pull off something of a miracle and save his job, at least until the international break is over. Magpies find a way.

Swansea City 0 – 1 Newcastle United