Newcastle United v Swansea City: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's fixture at St James’ Park

Garry Monk looks on from the touchline (Getty Images)

Despite securing their place in the Premier League weeks ago, and sitting comfortably in the top half, having sold their best player and not replaced him, Alan Pardew is under pressure at Newcastle. Four consecutive defeats have cast a sense of gloom over St James’ Park, and the Magpies are meandering towards the end of the season.

Swansea are also enduring a tough time, their win against Norwich an only victory in a twelve game spell that has seen them knocked out of European and domestic cups, and sucked towards a relegation battle.

By the time they kick off in the North East, Swansea could be within one point of the bottom three – Gary Monk’s men need a result if they are to maintain their top flight status. They have excellent recent form against Newcastle, and they’ll need to maintain it.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Swansea 3 (Dyer, Debuch OG, Shelvey) Newcastle 0, Premier League, December 2013

Swansea 1 (Moore) Newcastle 0, Premier League, March 2013

Newcastle 1 (Ba) Swansea 2 (Michu, De Guzman), Premier League, November 2012

STATS…

Until Boxing Day Newcastle had lost only one of their nine home league games – since then they have lost six out of eight

Newcastle’s four draws is the fewest of any team in the top half of the table

When Loic Remy has been absent, Newcastle have one just once in the league this season

Since Gary Monk took over, Swansea have picked up just two points from five away league games

Both of Monk’s wins as Swans manager have come by a 3-0 scoreline

Newcastle have only beaten Swansea once in the Premier League in five meetings

ODDS…

Newcastle to win: 2.62

Swansea to win: 2.6

Draw: 3.5

CLASSIC MOMENT – Papiss Cisse scores his second goal to seal a Newcastle win in 2012

Newcastle were already in the lead through a first half Cisse strike when the Senegalese forward produced a moment of genius to wrap up the game. Slid in down the inside left channel by Yohan Cabaye, Cisse’s first touch looked to have got a little bit stuck under his own feet. His second, however, was stunning, digging out a miraculous chip over Michel Vorm and into the net.

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm