Shelvey * as Swans lastly get prosperous against Magpies Swansea 3 Newcastle 0

Shelvey * as Swans lastly get prosperous against Magpies Swansea 3 Newcastle 0

Michael Laudrup would have given a fortune to sign Loic Remy last summer, but since then he would have given anything for a bit of luck. Last night he got some. Twice.
There was nothing fortuitous about Swansea's first goal, scored by a substitute winger, Nathan Dyer, when the last striker in his squad went off injured.
Jonjo Shelvey then took over the mantle, scoring a fortunte goal to make it 2-0, then a cracker to make it three.

Pick that one out: Jonjo Shelvey scored a stunning goal from 25-yards to wrap up Swansea's second home win of the season

No chance: Newcastle keeper Tim Krul tried in vain to keep out Shelvey's curler but was well beaten

Star man: Jonjo Shelvey ran the show from midfield in a convincing 3-0 win for Swansea against Newcastle

Lucky boy: For all his good work on the ball Jonjo Shelvey (left) was lucky to get away with this headbutt on Mathieu Debuchy (right)

 

In on goal: Shelvey heads towards Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul

Going over: Shelvey loses his footing and collides with Krul as Debuchy attempts to make a last ditch tackle

They all count: Jonjo Shelvey claimed it but the last touch came off Newcastle's Debuchy as the Swans went 2-0 up

Picture perfect: Jonjo Shelvey (right) looks on as the ball heads towards the goal

Kids play: Jonjo Shelvey and Nathan Dyer were both on the scoresheet for Swansea

 

But Alan Pardew had good reason to look a little miffed about the penalty his side were denied when Remy's second-half shot hit Ben Davies's hand and Howard Webb gave nothing.
Likewise, the man with four straight wins could only bury his head in hands when a bit of penalty box pinball saw the ball cannon off Mathieu Debuchy and into his own net. On such moments can season's turn and, just like that, Swansea had only their second win in nine and Newcastle's four-game winning run is over.
On the basis of pre-match form, this was a black-and-white illustration of what a Europa League campaign can do to a club's form.
Newcastle have taken off this season without that continental workload that so notably hurt their 2012-13 campaign; Swansea have struggled this time round for any kind of consistency in both results and performance.

Back of the net: Swansea midfielder Nathan Dyer fires past Tim Krul in the Newcastle goal

Impact: Dyer's goal will boost his chances of starting for the Swans in their next game against Hull City

Goal face: Dyer looks shocked after scoring the opening goal of the game

Super sub: Nathan Dyer and his Swansea teammates celebrate his goa

Team spirit: Swansea players rush to congratulate Nathan Dyer after his goal

Laudrup spent north of £20million on squad reinforcements in the summer to compensate for the extra games but a single win in eight ahead of this fixture told a story.
Injuries have not helped, as is their habit. Without Michu and Wilfried Bony they have turned to Alvaro Vazquez, a loan signing from Getafe who has rarely looked up to the task. Vazquez lasted 28 minutes here before he hurt his groin and was replaced by a winger in Dyer. Dyer in a dire situation, but what an impact he made.
The first half was set to end level when he found a little pocket of space inside the area a minute into first-half stoppage time. Newcastle had failed to sufficiently clear a Jonathan De Guzman free-kick and Alejandro Pozuelo took possession on the left, whipping a shot at Tim Krul's far post.
The goalkeeper could only flap at it and the ball fell to Dyer, whose volley went between Davide Santon's legs and past Krul.

Midfield battle: Alejandro Pozuelo (left) evades the challenge of Cheick Tiote

See how Swansea's intricate build up play helped Nathan Dyer to score the opener with our brilliant Match Zone

MATCH FACTS

Swansea: (4-3-3): Vorm 7; Tiendalli 6, Chico 6, Williams 6, Davies 6; Canas 7, De Guzman 6, Shelvey 8; Pozuelo 7 (Routledge 85), Vazquez 6 (Dyer 29, 7), Hernandez 7 (Lamah 71, 6).
Subs not used: Tremmel, Amat, Taylor, Britton.
Goals: Dyer 45, Debuchy 66 (og), Shelvey 81
Manager: Michael Laudrup 7

Newcastle: (4-4-2): Krul 6; Debuchy 6, Williamson 6 (Yanga-Mbiwa 77), Coloccini 7, Santon 5 (Haidara 56, 6); Sissoko 7, Tiote 6, Cabaye 7, Gouffran 6; Shola Ameobi 6 (Obertan 68, 6), Remy 7.
Subs not used: Elliot, Anita, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett.
Booked: Debuchy, Haidara.
Manager: Alan Pardew 6
Referee: Howard Webb 6
Att: 20,457

MOM: Jonjo Shelvey
*Player ratings by Riath Al-Samarrai at the Liberty Stadium

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Until then, Laudrup might well have spent the half ruing Remy. Laudrup wanted the Frenchman in the summer but instead he has flourished at Newcastle.
His eight goals in nine games prior to Wednesday night have made a real difference to Pardew's team, not to mention the ability of their manager to deflect the narrative away from off-the-field issues.
He so nearly got the opener at the Liberty when his athleticism and springy toes allowed him to get up and meet Debuchy's high cross from the right. He generated an improbable amount of height on his leap, but his downward header was well saved by Michel Vorm.
Behind him, Moussa Sissoko was a monstrous presence. Inside 10 minutes he had nutmegged Ben Davies; a few moments later he stopped a Shelvey run.
His goal against West Brom on Saturday secured their fourth straight win, but his wider performances have been a key feature of the resurgence in general.
He was often the driving force behind Newcastle at the Liberty.
Shelvey was that figure for Swansea. He, like so many in Laudrup's team, has been inconsistent this season. But this was his good side and this, occasionally, was Swansea's.
They were at their slick best at times, while Newcastle, so effective at mixing grace and brawn until now, looked limited. Beyond Sissoko and the odd flourish from Yohan Cabaye they looked predictable.
Indeed, it was an angled pass from Cabaye that landed a foot too far in front of Remy after 48 minutes and it was his deflected shot that opened an avenue for Shola Ameobi, who volleyed at Vorm.

Super save: Michel Vorm of Swansea City saves a header from Loic Remy

Team effort: Chico Flores (left) and Ashley Williams (right) worked hard to keep Loic Remy off the scoresheet

Dangerman: Loic Remy (right) was a threat throughout for Newcastle but failed to score

Appeal: Loic Remy thought Newcastle should have been awarded a penalty but Howard Webb waved play on

Solid: Jonathan de Guzman (left) and Nathan Dyer (right) of Swansea City challenge Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi (centre)

 

Closer still went Remy, who after 57 minutes took a shot that hit Davies's hand. Webb gave no penalty and Pardew looked disgusted. He had a case.
Laudrup has often bemoaned his luck with officials this season, and in general, as well. He had his share here, as demonstrated by Swansea's second.
Pozuelo had hit a stunning through hball from the right and Shelvey went clear. He appeared to have overrun it, poking a shot straight at Krul but the ball rebounded against Debuchy and into the net. It was cruel, but Laudrup won't have cared.
There was nothing lucky about Shelvey’s second and Swansea’s third, curled home from 25 yards.