Swansea City claimed their first victory of the new Premier League season with a 2-0 win over 10-man Newcastle United at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon.
The Swans started confidently and carved out their first chance in the third minute as Jonjo Shelvey struck one from the edge of the box and stung the palms of Tim Krul in the Magpies goal.
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Swansea took the lead in the eighth minute when Shelvey split the Newcastle defence in two with a through-ball to Bafetimbi Gomis, allowing the Frenchman to round Krul and net his second of the season.
Steve McClaren's side almost hit back two minutes later as Gabriel Obertan twisted and turned in the danger zone before having a tame shot saved by Lukasz Fabianski.
Obertan came closer to an equaliser in the 16th minute when he collected a pass from Papiss Cisse and tested Fabianski at his near post with a blistering effort that the Pole could only tip behind.
Newcastle ended the first half with 10 men as Daryl Janmaat picked up a second yellow card in the 40th minute and was given his marching orders.
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The Swans almost made their numerical advantage count on the stroke of half time as Jefferson Montero crashed an effort against the post moments before the referee brought the first period to a close.
Swansea started the second half as they ended the first and doubled their lead less than 10 minutes after the restart through Andre Ayew, who met a Montero cross with a bullet header that soared beyond the reach of Krul.
The Magpies never looked like getting back into the game at a man down, and Shelvey almost put the Swans out of sight in the 79th minute when he outmuscled Fabricio Coloccini and let fly, forcing Krul into another save.
The result maintains Swansea's unbeaten start to the new season, which they began with a 2-2 draw at champions Chelsea last weekend.
Mark Langshaw
