NEWCASTLE UNITED were left choked by a late Luke Moore goal at the Liberty Stadium. The Magpies produced some good football in the second half and cracked the bar through skipper Yohan Cabaye. But despite creating numerous other chances they failed to find a route past Michel Vorm and were hit by a late sucker punch in front of a watching Mike Ashley.
It looked like United had banked at least a point in Wales but the Swans refused to settle for a draw. It took a defensive mix-up by Newcastle's back line to let in Moore but after Mathieu Debuchy failed to block Wayne Routledge's cross Davide Santon's failure to clear first time allowed Moore to muscle his way through and slot past Rob Elliot with five minutes to go. United were without skipper Fabricio Coloccini who was ruled out with a back injury. And as expected, Cabaye stepped in to don the captain's armband at the Liberty Stadium. Hatem Ben Arfa wasn't deemed fit enough for the clash and did not travel to Wales. The League Cup winners had the first chance of the game on six minutes when Routledge's cross was headed over by Michu. Newcastle survived again three minutes later when they failed to deal with a great ball into the box and after Ashley Williams' goal-bound effort it was Steven Taylor who cleared the danger. In a tight and edgy contest, United didn't create much in the way of first half chances but Swansea had a great chance after Yohan Cabaye steamrollered into the back of Nathan Dyer. Routledge whipped in the resultant set-piece and Garry Monk headed over the top. The two sides went in level at the break but United had a chance just 32 seconds into the second period but Papiss Cisse's effort was scooped high and wide. Two minutes later Swansea were denied by Elliot with a double save. First he blocked Angel Rangel's effort and then palmed away Routledge's follow up before Steven Taylor cleared the danger. On 50 minutes Yoan Gouffran escaped down the left and crossed into the idle but Swansea cleared the danger. However, Debuchy arrived down the right and sent an effort whistling wide of the post. Cisse would lash one over left footed on 55 minutes after finding space in the box. There was a great chance for the Magpies just before the hour mark when Sissoko's blistering run down the right was cut across the box for Gouffran but he struck his shot just over the top. As the game reached the 67-minute mark Cabaye struck a sting effort from just outside the box after Santon's pass, but the Frenchman's attempt clipped the crossbar. There was another big chance for United when Cabaye fed Sissoko and his powerful effort required a first class stop from Vorm to turn it round the post on 73 minutes. Sissoko carved out another chance after a powerful and potent run down the right channel but his shot flew wide. With five minutes left though old boy Routledge haunted his old side with a left wing cross before Santon and Yanga-Mbiwa got in each other's way and sub Luke Moore drop his shoulder before slotting past Elliot. It was harsh on United after a sustained spell of pressure but in a tight game it was perhaps inevitable.
SWANSEA: Vorm, Rangel, Monk (c), Williams, Davies, Britton (Moore 77) De Guzman, Dyer (Sung-Yueng 60), Routledge, Hernandez, Michu NEWCASTLE UNITED: Elliot, Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Sissoko, Gouffran, Cisse REF: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire) Attendance: 20405
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