Newcastle United vs Swansea City match report: Andros Townsend inspires Toon to reinvigorate survival bid

Newcastle United 3 Swansea City 0

(Getty)

It was hard to think straight, never mind find straws to clutch, in the immediate aftermath of a punishing defeat in Southampton. Then Newcastle felt like a football club with the last rites about to be read.

Jamaal Lascelles, the 22-year-old central defender, bravely rounded on the lack of fight and leaders in the dressing room he only entered in the summer. Benitez, wild eyed with anger at the capitulation, himself looked only half convinced when he said that St James’ Park, where four of the remaining six games of the season were to be played, would prove crucial in this longest of shots at potential safety.

The bookmakers had Newcastle down. They were 13/2 then.

By the time Lee Mason blew his whistle for the final time, the odds had tumbled to 9/4. Newcastle’s home record in 2016 moved to played six, won three, drawn two and lost one.

The Gallowgate End of St James’ Park was singing happy birthday to their Spanish manager. On the day he turned 56, Benitez had his best day since his took charge on 11 March.

“Everybody was happy in the dressing room,” he said. “They are now thinking that we can do it. They believe. They have this feeling, like all the fans. Everybody thinks we can do it. That is the main think. To be sure we will fight. A lot of times we will fight to the end. Now we are closer it will be easier to give this speech.”

There was much talk of belief.

It had not followed the near 50,000 support into the stadium. It was a nervy afternoon. Even after Lascelles had opened the scoring with a header from an Andros Townsend cross, disaster sat on the shoulder of his players.

Twice midway through the second half Swansea went close. Ashley Williams shot narrowly wide and Jefferson Montero, on the angle, lifted his shot to the side of both Karl Darlow and a Newcastle upright.

Rafa Benitez gestures during his side's 3-0 victory against Swansea (Getty)

The stadium had held its breath with each shot.

“I think Newcastle deserved to win but the result is heavy for us,” said Francesco Guidolin. “Newcastle played better than us, with more intensity and more focus but in the second half we had some situations and possibility to score and to draw and maybe the match could be changed.”

It was not. With eight minutes remaining, from another Townsend corner, Aleksandar Mitrovic’s header was deflected into the path of Moussa Sissoko, and the captain had his goal.

He ran to the bench in celebration. There looks a late show of unity. In the 89th minute Mitrovic cleverly fed Townsend and the game’s best player took his time before placing a left footed shot beyond Lukasz Fabianski.

“It was a good present for me,” said Benitez. “The players were working so hard. They saw the passion, the character and the commitment that we were looking for. The fans appreciated that. I’m really pleased for them.

“I think the players have the belief now. The ideas we practise in training they were trying and trying. In the end we won, we scored three goals and we had some chances. This team has this feeling working together and has the fans behind us.”

Jamaal Lascelles scores Newcastle's first goal (Getty)

On Tuesday night, after a final burst of fight from the North East representatives in the Premier League, Newcastle could move out of the relegation zone. Then they face a Manchester City with an eye on the Champions League semi-final, again at St James’ Park. Victory would move them above both Sunderland and Norwich.

That still sounds remarkable given what has happened this season.

Teams

Newcastle (4-1-4-1): Darlow; Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett; Tiote (Shelvey 66); Townsend, Sissoko, Colback, Wijnaldum (Perez 73); Cisse (Mitrovic 80).

Swansea (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Cork, Fer (Barrow 57); Ayew (Gomis 72), Sigurdsson, Montero; Paloschi (Rutledge 84).

Referee: Mr Lee Mason

Star man: Townsend

Match rating: 6/10