Swansea 0-1 Newcastle AS IT HAPPENED: Lascelles seals back-to-back wins for absent Rafa

NEWCASTLE sealed their second-consecutive Premier League victory over Swansea courtesy of a second-half goal from captain Jamaal Lascelles. See how the drama unfolded with Express Sport.

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty StadiumREUTERS

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty Stadium

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brought you LIVE coverage from the Liberty Stadium

GOODBYE! 

Thanks for joining me today folks. I’ll be back again tomorrow evening to bring you updates and analysis as West Ham welcome Huddersfield to the London Stadium.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Kev: F****** get in! Three points and a clean sheet away from home without our manager! Good day for the Geordie boys!

Johnny: An away win in the Premier League, I must be dreaming! Well done lads! Rafa must be livid in front of the telly!

Max: Absolutely class win that. Will take that all day long. Lascelles is a five star general.

FT: SWANSEA 0-1 NEWCASTLE

Newcastle have done it! Rafa Benitez might be recovering after his operation but the players have done him proud with a 1-0 victory over Swansea.

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty StadiumREUTERS

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty Stadium

95: Danger! This could be last chance saloon. Swansea have a free-kick by the left touchline. Everyone descends into the area… but Clucas’ delivery fails to beat the first man.

93: Save! Bony releases Narsingh, whose shot is blocked by the legs of Elliot. How many chances have Swansea got left?

92: Swansea win a corner and Sam Clucas delivers the worst set-piece of the season. Straight out of play. I’d hand him his p45 after that.

FIVE MINUTES ADDED TIME

90: Precious time ticks away with Alfie Mawson down injured. It’ll all be added on, I’m sure.

89: Olsson loops a ball back into the box but one of the five million Newcastle players clears, and Fer nods the result corner over.

87: Merino has been winded. Not quite sure how because it slammed into his back. But crafty that lad. Paul Clement makes another change with as Tom Carroll comes off for Luciano Narsingh.

85: Life without Fernando Llorente and Gylfi Sigurdsson? It’s not that nice for Swansea fans. Newcastle doing all the attacking with five minutes of normal time remaining.

83: All three of Jamaal Lascelles goals for Newcastle in the Premier League have been headers via a corner - two coming vs Swansea.

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty StadiumGETTY

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty Stadium

80: Yellow card for Leroy Fer for a late tackle on Atsu deep in the Newcastle half. Ten minutes for Swansea to turn things around.

79: Newcastle make their final change with Dwight Gayle replacing Joselu. The travelling Toon fans start signing Rafa’s name again. Bet he’s feeling better now!

77: SWANSEA 0-1 NEWCASTLE - LASCELLES

And there’s the breakthrough. There’s nothing fancy about this one, but how valuable could it be?!

Skipper Jamaal Lascelles leaps to power Matt Ritchie's corner into the net. It was fairly close to Fabianski, but the power did the job.

76: Good effort from Joselu, who stoops low to meet a cross but he can’t connect with any real power. He follows that with a tame shot that Fabianski saves. No real conviction behind the shot.

74: Swansea have taken it up a gear over the last couple of minutes. They’re away to Tottenham at Wembley next, so a win today would be invaluable. Lovely football from Newcastle ends with Manquillo slipping in Perez, and his low shot is blocked by the left leg of Fabianski.

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty StadiumGETTY

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty Stadium

70: Ritchie finds Perez and the Spaniard flashes across goal from a tight angle. Mo Diame replaces Isaac Hayden.

68: “Come on Wilfried Bony, score some goals for Swansea, we’ll go wild, wild, wild” sing the Swansea supports. The striker is now on and receives a hero's welcome. He replaces Sanches.

65: Here comes Renato Sanches… and there goes possession. He’s not enjoyed the best of debuts. Given the ball away far too much.

63: HOW ON EARTH?! Leroy Fer plays a sublime ball through to Tammy Abraham, who rounds the keeper before sliding the ball towards goal. Why didn’t it go in? Well, Jamaal Lascelles makes a superb block on the line to keep the score at 0-0!

60: Clever from Renato Sanches to win a free-kick just outside the area. The Portuguese star is standing over it… rubbish. 20-yards over the bar. Newcastle make a change with Christian Atsu replacing Jacob Murphy.

57: Close! Kyle Naughton blazes Martin Olsson’s cross back across goal but Tammy Abraham couldn’t get the decisive touch. Tom Carroll follows that with a low strike that Elliot turns away.

55: It’s all got very tight here at the Liberty with neither side taking too many risks to win the match. The point would certainly be a better result for Newcastle.

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty StadiumTWITTER

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty Stadium

51: Matt Ritchie you lucky boy. The winger has flown into a challenge with a high-boot that very nearly connected with Alfie Mawson’s face.

It’s very similar to Sadio Mane’s incident yesterday, so everyone was expecting referee Mike Jones to reach for red, but he selected yellow instead.

If you listen very carefully, you’ll be able to hear thousands of Liverpool fans saying “How’s that NOT a red and Mane's was?!”

48: Naughton chips a ball into the area but Lascelles is there to clear. The defender then slips to foul Gamez and is booked for his troubles. Neither side really asserted themselves in this half.

45: We’re back underway for more fun and games. No changes at the break.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Tom: Swansea are still looking a bit toothless up front. Newcastle are well organised but we’ve still got Wilfried Bony to come!

Ricky: Renato Sanches must of lost the ball about 10 times. So many misplaced passes.

Marc: Swansea need to use the width more, maybe ditch the diamond formation, bring on Wayne Routledge & let him use his pace against Gamez. It’s a mismatch.

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty StadiumGETTY

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty Stadium

HT: So, whats’s the verdict on Renato Sanches? Well I don’t want to slate the kid on his Premier League debut, but he’s not set the world alight. Plenty of touches but he’s a little off the pace with his accuracy. I’m sure there’s plenty to come.

HT: SWANSEA 0-0 NEWCASTLE

46: Another kick in the nuts? It’s becoming an epidemic! Manquillo is the latest player to take a flying foot to the plums. Renato Sanches is the culprit this time.

44: Urrrr, is this some kind of new defending technique? Lascelles goes for a diving header but slips and actually drops on it like a rugby player. Not stylish but it worked.

43: Oh, I should mention that Merino can’t be banned retrospectively as no penalty or red card was given.

42: I might have underestimated how good that Alfie Mawson chance was there. It was a free-header from a couple of yards away. On target and it would have been 1-0. Tammy Abraham is down clutching his plums after a 50/50 with Ayoze Perez. New balls please!

40: Ayew steals the ball of the dithering Hayden, drives forward and Elliot makes a good save to deny the forward. Tom Carroll delivers the corner but Alfie Mawson guides his effort narrowly wide of the post.

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty StadiumREUTERS

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty Stadium

38: Penalty appeal! The Newcastle players are absolutely raging - but they won’t when they see the replay.

It’s one of the most outrageous dives you’ll see this season from Mikel Merino, who literally dropped to the ground before Alfie Mawson had even tackled him.

No contact, no penalty and no booking. As you were.

35: Lots pleasant passing from Swansea around the midfield area, but nothing that’s threatened Elliot. Fabulous save! Joselu glances a header destined for the far corner but Fabianski somehow manages to claw it away with a fingertip save. Stunning stop.

32: Joselu goes for a spectacular half-volley but his wayward effort lands in Row Z. There was a brief injury scare for Renato Sanches but he’s fine to continue.

30: Chance! Fernandez leaves his backpass short and Murphy steals in. He could go either way but decides to take it first time and flicks it over. Decent chance.

28: Manquillo concedes a silly free-kick on the left flank. His blushes are spared when Tom Carroll’s delivery alludes everyone. Missing that Sigurdsson delivery methinks.

25: 70% of possession so far for Swansea. No shots on target. Newcastle doing a good job of keeping Tammy Abraham quiet.

22: Newcastle are really struggling to put some passes together. They’ve not kept possession for more than a few seconds since the off. Sturdy at the back though.

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty StadiumGETTY

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty Stadium

18: I’m pretty sure Renato Sanches is going to set a record for the number of touches by a debutant. Everything’s going through him. Abraham looks to connect with a cross but Elliot is quickly off his line to claim.

16: The 2,000 travelling Newcastle fans chant the name of Rafa Benitez, who isn't in South Wales today as he recovers from an operation. Nice touch.

15: Encouraging signs for Swansea. Renato Sanches is finding those pockets of space but hasn’t been able to exploit them yet.

12: You’d imagine it will take Swansea a good few weeks to adapt to their new style and players. They’ve made a decent start but Newcastle look more composed than they did in the early stages.

9: Summer signing Merino is looking sharper than I’ve seen him in previous weeks. Almost slipped through Joselu though until Mawson intercepted. Hayden is shown the game's first yellow card as he brings down Renato Sanchez inside the Swansea half.

6: Right on cue, Newcastle have the first shot of the match as Joselu pings one straight at Elliot. Commentators curse and all that…

5: Newcastle haven’t been able to settling into any kind of rhythm yet. Swansea are pressing well and the traveling side look a touch vulnerable.

3: And the grey skies have turned to torrential rain. Not pleasant conditions here in Wales today. There’s a nice sharpness to Swansea’s play in the opening stages. Tom Carroll pulls rank to take a free-kick ahead of Renato Sanches, but he’s got his angles wrong.

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty StadiumGETTY

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty Stadium

1: SWANSEA 0-0 NEWCASTLE

We’re underway folks! Swansea had themselves a nice little team huddle prior to kick-off. I’m assuming Alfie Mawson took the lead on that one.

15:58: The players have emerged from the tunnel to grey skies and a raucous crowd. That’s how we like it.

15:55: As previously mentioned, Rafael Benitez will not be in the Newcastle dugout today as he recovers from an operation.

Fitness coach Francisco de Miguel Moreno said on Friday that Benitez still hoped to be able to be present at the Liberty Stadium, but a statement from the club confirmed he would be absent.

"The team will be led by Rafa's coaching staff, who will be in contact with the manager throughout matchday. Everyone at the club wishes Rafa a speedy recovery," the statement read.

15:51: Ryan Giggs expects "fantastic" Renato Sanches to be among the Premier League's most exciting players after tracking him during his time as Manchester United assistant manager.

"It didn't quite happen for him last year at Bayern. That can happen; a young player moving country, different language, a big club and a lot of expectation," Giggs said.

"But he is a talent and the Premier League will suit him because he's an aggressive player. He can tackle, he can get forward and he's going to a club that play football the right way, so I think he'll be a success."

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty StadiumREUTERS

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty Stadium

15:47: Paul Clement believes Swansea have a stronger squad without Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente.

His quotes are going to have to be bloody persuasive to convince me of that...

Swansea signed seven players in the transfer window while 10 left the club, among them Icelandic playmaker Sigurdsson - who was involved in 53 per cent of their goals last season - and 15-goal top scorer Llorente.

"I'm very happy with the way that the squad has shaped up. Clearly you are disappointed when you lose some key players, and in Sigurdsson, Llorente and Jack Cork three very good players left the club," Clement said.

"I can't lie and say we haven't lost some good players. We have. But the ins that we got are very good and I am pleased with the size of the squad. We brought the numbers down and it's far more manageable. I would go for this squad now - 100 per cent."

15:45: Swansea boss Paul Clement makes one change from the 2-0 win at Crystal Palace.

The man everyone’s been talking about Renato Sanches makes his debut in place of centre-back Mike van der Hoorn.

That tactical change means the Welsh side will be playing a 4-4-2 instead of their 5-3-2.

15:43: Let’s begin with the visitors. Rafa Benitez, who I assume will be following the match via this blog, has made two changes from the 3-0 win against West Ham.

Jacob Murphy and Jesus Gamez replace Christian Atsu and Chancel Mbemba, who’s been sidelined for there months with an injury.

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty StadiumREUTERS

Swansea v Newcastle: Express Sport brings you LIVE coverage from the Liberty Stadium

15:40: Here’s today’s starting XI’s folks… 

Swansea XI: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson, Fer, Clucas, Carroll, Sanches, Abraham, Ayew.

Subs: Bony, van der Hoorn, Narsingh, Nordfeldt, Routledge, Rangel, Roque.

Newcastle XI: Elliot, Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Jesus Gamez, Hayden, Merino, Murphy, Perez, Ritchie, Joselu.

Subs: Shelvey, Gayle, Diame, Lejeune, Yedlin, Atsu, Woodman.

Referee: Mike Jones.

15:35: Good afternoon folks, welcome to our LIVE coverage of Swansea v Newcastle from the Liberty Stadium.

There’s a notable absentee in Wales today, and that’s Toon boss Rafa Benitez because of illness. 

Apparently Mike Ashley offered to transport him there via helicopter but the Spanish tactician isn’t feeling well enough.

But the show must go on! Let’s get started.

PREVIEW

SWANSEA TEAM NEWS

Portugal midfielder Renato Sanches is likely to make his Swansea debut at home to Newcastle today.

Sanches, signed on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich, arrived in south Wales on Thursday after international duty, but fellow deadline day signing Wilfried Bony has to build up his fitness levels and he could be among the substitutes.

Jordan Ayew has recovered from a stomach problem which forced him to miss Ghana's games during the international break, but Kyle Bartley (knee ligaments), Nathan Dyer (Achilles) and Ki Sung-yueng (knee) remain out.

NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS

Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic begins a three-match ban as midfielder Jonjo Shelvey returns from his for today’s Premier League trip to Swansea.

Chancel Mbemba will also miss out with a hamstring injury suffered on international duty with the Democratic Republic of Congo and will join fellow defender Paul Dummett (also hamstring) on the sidelines, although the Magpies are confident the damage is not as serious as first suggested.

However, full-back De Andre Yedlin (hamstring) and central defender Florian Lejeune (ankle ligaments) are back in full training, while striker Dwight Gayle has shaken off his persistent hamstring problem.

PROVISIONAL SQUADS

Swansea squad: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson, Clucas, Fer, Carroll, Sanches, Ayew, Abraham, Nordfeldt, Rangel, Van der Hoorn, Britton, Mesa, Fulton, Narsingh, Routledge, Bony.

Newcastle squad: Elliot, Woodman, Yedlin, Manquillo, Gamez, Lascelles, Clark, Lejeune, Hayden, Merino, Shelvey, Saivet, Ritchie, Atsu, Murphy, Aarons, Diame, Barlaser, Perez, Gayle, Joselu.

HISTORY

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Swansea W W D L W; Newcastle W W L L W

Top scorers (all competitions): Tammy Abraham & Jordan Ayew & Leroy Fer (Swansea) 2; Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle) 2

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