Premier League: Swansea vs Newcastle match preview

A look ahead to Saturday’s Premier League fixture at the Liberty Stadium

Swansea's Wilfried Bony has been linked with a move away from South Wales

Garry Monk’s high-flying Swansea side will be hoping to end their run of three league games without a win by taking three points against a Newcastle side in disarray.

The Swans have slipped back slightly after winning their opening three league fixtures in an excellent start, including an opening-day 2-1 victory at Old Trafford, but are still sitting comfortably in fifth place. Their performances have been built on a solid defence which has kept four clean sheets in six appearances, although Monk will be hoping that Wilfried Bony rediscovers his scoring touch – the Ivorian, who delivered 16 league goals last season, is yet to find the net this season.

Newcastle are yet to win in the league this season, and under-fire manager Alan Pardew will be desperate that his leaky defence can regain some solidity. His side have kept a clean sheet just once in the Premier League this season, and have conceded 12 goals in the other five matches. Newcastle have the worst record of any Premier League side since the start of the calendar year, and are only kept off bottom spot by Burnley’s inferior goals tally. Another defeat here will deepen their relegation woes, and make the calls for Pardew’s head even more vocal.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3.00pm

The pressure is on Pardew (AP)

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Newcastle 1 (Ameobi) Swansea 2 (Bony 2), Premier League, April 2014

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

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

STATS…

Newcastle have won just one of the last seven clashes between the two sides, Papiss Cissé scoring both in a 2-0 victory in April 2012.

Alan Pardew’s side have won just five of their 25 league matches this calendar year, the joint-fewest in the Premier League.

Garry Monk has won 10, drawn five and lost 10 in his 25 matches since taking over Swansea in February.

Swansea have never finished below 12th since becoming the first Welsh team to play in the Premier League in 2011/12.

ODDS…

Swansea to win: 1.83

Newcastle to win: 4.3

Draw: 3.6

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm.