Michu grabs 10th goal of the season, as Newcastle’s suffer second consecutive home defeat.
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Summer signings Michu and Jonathan de Guzman were both on target as Swansea beat Newcastle 2-1 on Saturday to secure their first win at St. James’ Park in 32 years.
Michu, who joined Swansea in a £2million move from La Liga outfit Rayo Vallecano over the summer, notched his seventh goal of the season while De Guzman’s late second gave Michael Laudrup’s side their first win in four matches, despite a stoppage-time strike from Demba Ba.
Defeat for Newcastle consigned them to a second successive home defeat with Swansea climbing above them to move 10th in the Premier League table, leaving the Magpies in 12th.
Newcastle were dealt a blow prior to kick-off with Papiss Cisse ruled out after Senegal invoked FIFA’s “five-day rule” — under which nations may suspend a player for five days should they fail to show up for an international fixture without a valid excuse — following the striker’s withdrawal from his country’s friendly against Niger in midweek.
Nathan Dyer missed a chance to give Swansea an early lead as he scuffed his effort badly under pressure from Mike Williamson having been played in behind the Newcastle defence.
Pablo Hernandez and Michu both drew saves out of home goalkeeper Tim Krul during the first half, while Hatem Ben Arfa — who forced Gerhard Tremmel to claw away his fierce strike — was by far and away the liveliest player in Newcastle’s ranks.
The France international also picked out Ba in the Swansea box, but the striker’s glancing header flashed narrowly wide of the far post with Tremmel beaten.
Itay Shechter then could have put Swansea in front minutes before the break after he capitalised on hesitation from Williamson in the Magpies’ defence, but Krul was off his line quickly to block the Israeli’s shot.
Shechter was again guilty of being wasteful 10 minutes after the interval as he blazed over from the edge of the box before Krul palmed behind a Hernandez strike that was heading just inside the near post.
However, a poor clearance from the Dutch keeper minutes later landed right at the feet of Hernandez, who advanced down the wing and picked out Michu, who planted a diving header low into the corner to put the visitors in the lead.
De Guzman then added a second three minutes from time, slotting in a rebound after Krul parried substitute Danny Graham’s initial attempt.
Newcastle pulled a goal back as Ba headed home after Sylvain Marveaux had rattled the crossbar, but it proved nothing more than consolation for the home side.
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