Swansea City ran out comfortable 2-0 winners over a lacklustre Newcastle United side in Saturday's Premier League clash at the Liberty Stadium.
Bafetimbi Gomis opened the scoring after eight minutes after he collected Jonjo Shelvey's defence-splitting pass before rounding Tim Krul and firing into the open net.
Daryl Janmaat was dismissed for two bookable offences on Jefferson Montero just before the break, and the game was all but over in the 52nd minute as the Ecuadorian's cross was nodded home by Andre Ayew.
Find out how the game unfolded with Sports Mole's live match commentary.
Hello folks, and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Premier League clash between Swansea City and Newcastle United at the Liberty Stadium!
After impressing on the opening weekend to hold champions Chelsea to a draw, Garry Monk's charges begin their home campaign against the Magpies, a side that will be looking for a new dawn under Steve McClaren following their poor campaign last season.
Newcastle, however, were encouraged by their own opening-day performance too, when the new head coach was only denied a debut win by a Southampton equaliser 10 minutes from time.
BREAKING: Team news filtering through...
SWANSEA STARTING XI: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Cork, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Ayew, Montero, Gomis
NEWCASTLE STARTING XI: Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Colback, Sissiko, Wijnaldum, Obertan, Cisse
SWANSEA SUBS: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Bartley, Britton, Routledge, Dyer, Eder
NEWCASTLE SUBS: Williamson, Aarons, Perez, Tiote, Darlow, Taylor, Mitrovic
A pretty straightforward set of team news here at the Liberty, as the only change for the hosts is enforced - Ki Sung-Yeung limped off against Chelsea with a hamstring problem, so Jack Cork takes his place in the starting XI.
As for the visitors, there are no changes at all. Clearly McClaren took heart from his new side's 2-2 draw against Southampton, and so opts for the same again.
Vurnon Anita was stretchered off last weekend with a back injury, but he appears to have made a good recovery and is in the Magpies XI.
Swansea's 2-2 draw at Chelsea was a stunning result against a team that conquered all before them last season, but Monk has voiced his displeasure at the events that took place thereafter, which I will deem "Doctorgate".
But this isn't a Chelsea piece, so I'll brush that to one side. Today is all about Swansea and Newcastle - who, like their opponents today, also opened their Premier League account this season with a high-scoring 2-2 draw.
So let's look in a bit more detail to how the Swans and the Toon got on last week - for Swans, new signing Andre Ayew hit the ground running with a goal on his debut for the club, while Jonjo Shelvey and Ki Sung-yueng (of course absent today) also appear to have maintained their fine form from the last campaign.
Also, Bafetimbi Gomis led the line extremely well and earned his side the penalty that saw the dismissal of Thibaut Courtois, which he dispatched past the Belgian's replacement Asmir Begovic.
It really looks like the Welsh outfit have well and truly found their rhythm under the tenure of Monk as he has helped carve his side into an established Premier League team, and further additions could even see them challenge for a place in the Europa League.
As for Newcastle, new £15m signing Georginio Wijnaldum made an instant impact for the Magpies by notching a debut goal and put in an impressive display on his Premier League debut, while fellow debutants Chancel Mbemba and Aleksandar Mitrovic also played their part.
Fitness appeared to be an issue for the Tyneside outfit towards the end of the match as Southampton came close to a winning goal through Sadio Mane after Shane Long brought them level, but the home side held out for the point to get them off the mark.
McClaren will have been pleased to see his side's new signings bed into the top flight quickly, while players that struggled under the old regime such as Gabriel Obertan were given a new lease of life under the 54-year-old in the opener - the club will be hopeful that the Frenchman's good form continues.
It's early days, of course, and the Toon Army will want to be cautious after the horror that was last season. The Magpies had the second-worst record in the Premier League last season on their travels, winning just three of their 19 matches. McClaren will have identified that as an area to improve upon if the club are to distance themselves from the relegation zone this season.
Monk had this to say about today's fixture: "We've done well against Newcastle in the past but it's a new team there now, with a new manager, and we have to be ready and focused because we're expecting a really tough game on Saturday."
Meanwhile, this is Newcastle assistant coach Paul Simpson's take on their opposition: "They're a footballing side and we want to be a footballing side as well so it'll be a good test of our patience and discipline."
Let's cast our eyes on how this fixture (and the reverse) panned out last season. Once again, the scoreline of 2-2 resurfaces, as this was the result when the two sides met at the Liberty last season, in October 2014. Papiss Cisse scored a brace to cancel out strikes from Wilfried Bony and Wayne Routledge.
Meanwhile, in the last meeting between the teams in April this year, the Swans recorded a 3-2 victory at St James's Park thanks to goals from Nelson Oliveira, Jack Cork and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Swansea have collected 17 points against Newcastle since being promoted to the Premier League, more than any other side over the same period. Something McClaren will have at the back of his mind but will surely not want to remind his playing staff.
This stat meanwhile, will certainly invigorate Monk - Swansea lost their final home game of the 2014-15 Premier League season against Manchester City, but they have never lost back-to-back home games in the league under Monk.
SOFA! The most famous item made for resting your bottom on since the Iron Throne (and possibly a little more comfortable too) is BACK! That's right folks, the Sports Mole Sofa is here to bring you trivia, stats and general discussion about all the weekend's big games. Here's what our boys had to say about Swansea vs. Newcastle:
If you're of a predicting disposition (whether there's money at stake or not), then you might want to read up these little stats. Bafetimbi Gomis has scored six goals in his last seven Premier League games for his side, while Papiss Cisse has scored four goals in four Premier League appearances against the Swans.
PREDICTION TIME: Just ten minutes to kickoff, so it's time for me to make my prediction.
Given that the last two games between these two sides have been high-scoring (2-2 and 3-2), their opening fixtures both ended 2-2, and their respective strikers are in a rich vein of form (one in general, the other against the opposition in particular), all points towards a high-scoring draw.
But as we all know, that means absolutely zilch, nada, nowt, nuffink, note, in football. So I'm going to go with a 1-0 Swansea win.
If it does indeed end 2-2, I will openly admit at the end of the comm that I'm a massive idiot. But we'll see! Hey, I'm not the only one who's found himself on the receiving end of a coupon-buster despite everything pointing to a certain result.
The Liberty pays tribute to former Swans Chris Marustik and Tony Millington, who passed away recently, with a round of applause.
Here come the teams! Swansea are in all-white, while Newcastle come out in what the club describes as the "peacoat-navy and bright plasma" away kit.
(Navy, pink and white to you and me, or alternatively, the kit that resembles PSG's home top)
KICKOFF! Aaaaaaand we're underway!!
CHANCE! Swansea have had all of the ball so far, Shelvey leading his side's attacks. The former Liverpool and Charlton man with the first chance of the game as he stings Krul's palms with a strike from the edge of the area.
First spell of decent possession for Newcastle since their shaky start. Sissoko in particular is looking like he could be a threat, cutting inside from the right.
Williams is on hand to thwart the Magpie man with a committed tackle to sniff out the attack and start Swansea on the break. Montero then finds himself in a similar position, but Mbemba comes in and cuts the attack out much like Williams did moments earlier.
GOAL! SWANSEA 1-0 NEWCASTLE (BAFETIMBI GOMIS)
Swansea have edged the opening period and they're now in the lead after just eight minutes played! A stunning defence-splitting pass from Shelvey finds Gomis, who duly rounds Krul and coolly slots the ball into the empty net! First blood Swans!
That's seven goals in eight PL games now for Gomis. That's pretty impressive to say the least.
CHANCE! Newcastle, though, nearly hit straight back as Obertan wriggles free down the left and cuts inside, but his shot is gathered by Fabianski.
It's going to finish 2-2, isn't it? See, this is why I don't bet.
Shelvey is dominating the midfield today, along with Sigurdsson. They combine to release Naughton down the right, but his subsequent cross goes out for a goal kick.
Newcastle are unable to break out of their own half or even win back possession. Their work rate needs to improve in the midfield third - they aren't closing down gaps quick enough. Could be a long afternoon for McClaren's side.
CHANCE! Cisse plays a lovely ball out wide for Obertan, who marauds forward, cuts into the centre and fires a shot in at the near post which Fabianski is forced to knock behind for a corner. Better from the visitors.
BOOKING: Janmaat is onto Montero like Claudio Gentile on Diego Maradona back in 1982 (showing my age there aren't I? To be fair I know this from footage, I'm a bit of a classic football nut), scything him down for the second time in quick succession, and the referee shows him a yellow card.
Now it's Mbemba's turn to come down hard on Montero, following through with a tackle and taking the winger out just outside the area, but got the ball with his tackling foot. Firm but fair.
Ironically, Gentile means "kind" or "soft" in Italian. Maradona certainly felt otherwise in that World Cup game all those years ago. How many more ironic footballing names can you think of? Answers on a postcard (or below on the comments section).
Shelvey fouls Colback - whose back was turned to goal - near the corner flag, awarding Newcastle a good opportunity from the ensuing free kick. Fabianski, though, collects with relative ease.
Newcastle are slowly working their way into the game. They have forced a couple of corners and are certainly applying a bit of pressure on the Swansea defence, though they need to up the gears a bit more if they want to claw their way back on the scoresheet.
The Montero v Janmaat battle continues, as the Swansea winger dances past his marker, who leaves a leg out - Montero goes over it, tumbles and his rival for the day is penalised. Janmaat must tread carefully as he's already been booked.
Sigurdsson finds space about 30 yards from goal and decides to let rip, but Coloccini makes a fine block and the ball goes for a corner, which is cleared.
Montero once again gets the better of Janmaat on the byline but can't find Gomis with the cross, so Newcastle clear and counter - the ball drops to Sissoko about 20 yards out, but his shot is wild and flies over the crossbar.
Now the visitors come forward with a series of one-touch passes to break their way into the final third. Janmaat manages to get a ball into the centre of the box, but Fabianski is able to sniff it out.
More chutzpah from Newcastle who have turned the tables on their opponents. Sissoko picks out Obertan, who could have been clear through, but a bad touch forces him wide - he looks for Cisse in the middle but Fernandez thwarts the ball inside his six yard box and clears.
Montero v Janmaat continues, as the Newcastle defender beats the winger and gets into a position to cross, but Williams mops up the danger.
RED CARD! Montero v Janmaat is now officially over. The Magpies defender tugged Montero back, and the referee decided enough was enough - second yellow card shown to the Dutchman, who trudges off the pitch and into the dressing room.
What an unnecessary move - Janmaat was 70 yards from his own goal, and Newcastle were working their way back into the game, but that tug on Montero, and its consequences, put the visitors back to square one.
OFF THE POST! And now, Montero has free rein to strut his stuff on the pitch as he drifts inside, comes to the edge of the box and unleashes a fine drive that has Krul beaten - not the post though, as the ball cannons back off the woodwork, and Newcastle escaped from jail there.
Two minutes of added time to come.
Newcastle win a free kick a bit off to the left, about 30 yards out from goal. They pack the penalty area with black-and-white shirts, but Wijnaldum opts to go for goal himself and his audacious strike sails over the bar. What a waste.
HALF TIME: SWANSEA 1-0 NEWCASTLE
Newcastle win a free kick a bit off to the left, about 30 yards out from goal. They pack the penalty area with black-and-white shirts, but Wijnaldum opts to go for goal himself and his audacious strike sails over the bar. What a waste.
So that's the first half over and done with, and Newcastle have a mountain to climb after falling a goal - and a man - down to Swansea. The hosts dominated proceedings in the opening stages and took the lead through the prolific Bafetimbi Gomis, but the Magpies worked their way into the game and had a number of chances to nick a goal before half time.
That is, until Daryl Janmaat overdid it with his defensive duties on Jefferson Montero. The Ecuadorian winger was a constant menace to the Newcastle back line, in particular the Dutchman, who clattered into his opponent a number of times. Booked on 17 minutes, sent off on 41. His curly dark hair will be exposed to a fair bit of hairdryer in the dressing room, I'm sure.
Thing is, Janmaat did get the better of his rival for the day just a minute or two before getting sent off, jinking past him and whipping a cross into the box. Frustration and red mist getting the better of him though. Compare and contrast to Mbemba's perfect tackle on Montero 20 minutes in.
Will the Swans be celebrating come 4:45pm approx this afternoon? Or can the Magpies swoop back and steal the shiny points in this Battle of the Birds?
© Getty Images
Newcastle have been shown eight red cards since the start of last season - the most in the Premier League. Plus ca change...
Second half to come shortly - stay with Sports Mole to see how this one ends up.
KICKOFF: Swansea get the second period underway, and there's a change for Newcastle - Steven Taylor is on for Moussa Sissoko, with Mbemba moving across to right-back. Winner stays on, Montero v Mbemba, LET'S GET READY TO RUMBBLEEE!! (maybe)
Swansea firmly in control of the ball in the opening stages, with Newcastle happy to sit back and soak up the early pressure.
OFF THE BAR! What a strike! Sigurdsson lines up a strike and lets fly from range, smacking the underside of the bar! Newcastle well and truly under the cosh.
BOOKING: Ayew picks up a yellow card for a challenge right beside the corner flag on Haidara.
GOAL! SWANSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE (ANDRE AYEW)
Brilliant stuff from Ayew as he makes a great run towards the near post to get on the end of Montero's cross, rifling a devastating header into the far corner! Can Newcastle pull two back in just under 40 minutes?
Two goals in two games for the Ghana international, and there were warning signs moments earlier when he nodded wide from Shelvey's free kick.
SUBSTITUTION: The visitors make their second personnel swap of the day as Papiss Cisse makes way for Rolando Aarons.
Pundit Martin Keown has had this to say about Montero: "I never got to see Stanley Matthews play, but this guy Jefferson Montero has got full-backs on toast."
That expression is completely new to me. Is he saying that Montero is the new Hannibal Lecter? Though the latter was known to like his grub with fava beans and a good Chianti. Answers once again on a postcard.
Hannibal Montero is once again in the thick of it as he cuts inside from the wing and pokes a ball to Cork about 20 yards out - Taylor makes a great block though. There will probably be more goals in this, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Ecuadorian will have a hand in them too.
BOOKING: Naughton commits late to a slide, taking out Haidara in the process, and ref Mike Jones whips out his yellow card.
CHANCE! Montero is at it again! Once again given far too much space out wide, he sends a cross towards Ayew in the centre of the box, but the ball is just a little too high for the Ghanaian and the subsequent header is off target.
I could probably just write "Swansea chance, Montero involved" from now on and it would pretty much cover the remainder of the match. #Streamlining
Despite that quality tackle on Montero earlier on, Mbemba - who has right-back experience - just isn't able to cope with the winger at present. His pace and skill are different class.
The Magpies aren't helping themselves, to be fair. Their passing is so blase and nonchalant at the minute, Taylor unsurprisingly giving the ball away. Swansea continue to press, looking for the right opening. They're in no rush.
SUBSTITUTION: Nathan Dyer is on for Swansea, with Andre Ayew receiving a standing ovation from the home fans for his display today.
Swansea chance, Montero involved.
Or, to be precise, Montero speeds away down the left flank and sends a cross that proves just a bit too high for Gomis.
SUBSTITUTION: Almost an act of mercy from Monk as he withdraws Montero from the action. Another standing ovation from the Swans crowd as Wayne Routledge comes on to see out the game and see if he can pick up from where the Ecuadorian left off. Not that there's much left of Newcastle currently...
The Newcastle players are deflated, demoralised, and demotivated. They've pretty much accepted that they're not winning this one. Shame to see really, because the final whistle is still just over 10 minutes away and they should give it their all until it's blown.
CHANCE! Shelvey slips in the box after muscling past Coloccini, but still manages to get a shot away. Krul gets his body behind to save, though.
SUBSTITUTION: Newcastle make their final change of the day as Aleksandar Mitrovic replaces Gabriel Obertan.
BOOKING: Two minutes on the pitch and Mitrovic is already booked after stamping Taylor. Granted, the Swansea full-back fouled him, but that was a tad excessive - he could have walked (still would have been on longer than Gerrard, mind).
SUBSTITUTION: Leon Britton replaces Gylfi Sigurdsson for Swansea.
Newcastle win a corner. Colback takes... straight to Fabianski. This game's over.
Now Swansea win a corner of their own, taken by Shelvey... Cork actually attempts a backheel towards goal! That would have been insult to injury, but Krul collects with ease.
Routledge sees an effort deflected narrowly wide for the home side, as four minutes of added time are announced.
FULL TIME: SWANSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE
The referee puts the Magpies out of their misery as their trip to Swansea ends in a 2-0 defeat. A great performance from Garry Monk's charges, who opened the scoring eight minutes in through the prolific Bafetimbi Gomis. Daryl Janmaat's sending off made for a comfortable second half for the Swans, who doubled their lead - and ultimately killed off the game - through Andre Ayew.
That's all we've got time for in our match commentary, but don't go anywhere, because Sports Mole will be bringing you a comprehensive match analysis and player ratings piece, and of course extensive coverage for all the big games of the day. Thanks for following us and have a great rest of the weekend!
The referee puts the Magpies out of their misery as their trip to Swansea ends in a 2-0 defeat. A great performance from Garry Monk's charges, who opened the scoring eight minutes in through the prolific Bafetimbi Gomis. Daryl Janmaat's sending off made for a comfortable second half for the Swans, who doubled their lead - and ultimately killed off the game - through Andre Ayew.
