Newcastle v Swansea

By John Roder
Match of the Day commentator

TEAM NEWS

Newcastle’s depleted defence could be bolstered by the return of Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson from respective thigh and ankle injuries.

Cheick Tiote’s knee problem will be assessed, while fellow midfielder Dan Gosling serves a one-match ban.

Swansea will welcome back Joe Allen after suspension as they look for their first away win in the Premier League.

Club captain Garry Monk and leading scorer Danny Graham are hoping to be recalled to the starting line-up.

MATCH PREVIEW

As we approach the end of 2011 I’d like to put forward my nomination for the transfer of the year in the Premier League; it took place in August, and saw the Dutch international goalkeeper Michel Vorm move from Utrecht to play-off winners Swansea for £1.5m. It’s often said that a good keeper can be worth 10 to 12 points over the course of a season, and Vorm is certainly playing his part so far.

Swansea have only conceded two goals in eight Premier League matches at the Liberty Stadium. To put that into context, in the major European Leagues only Barcelona and Udinese have better defensive records at home this season.

However, away from home it’s a very different story, as only Blackburn have conceded more goals than Swansea on their travels in the Premier League this season.

Vorm could well be in for a busy afternoon against a player who Newcastle fans will argue has been as equally good a signing. Demba Ba has scored 11 goals in his last 11 appearances, including hat-tricks in victories over Blackburn and Stoke. If you add in the fact that the Senegalese striker got seven goals for West Ham after joining them in January, then 2011 has been quite a year for Ba.

After taking just a point from their last four games, Newcastle will be aiming to get their season back on track against a team they beat 3-0 at home in the Championship when they last met, in November 2009. Tim Krul came on as a substitute in that match and he’s now the undisputed first choice. Krul and Vorm will, injuries permitting, surely be in the Dutch squad for Euro 2012. It will be fascinating to compare them this weekend.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Swansea have lost their last three visits to Newcastle in all competitions without scoring a goal since a 2-1 victory in the old Division Two in October 1980.
• This is the 35th meeting between the sides. Newcastle lead by 21 wins to nine, with four matches drawn.

Newcastle

• Newcastle have won all seven league matches this season in which they scored the opening goal. They and Bolton are the only two clubs who are yet to drop points from winning positions.
• Alan Pardew’s side have conceded 11 goals in their last four matches. They let in just eight in their first 11 games.
• Newcastle’s starting line-up against Norwich last weekend was their youngest in nearly four years, with an average age of 25 years and 124 days.
• Demba Ba has scored 18 Premier League goals in 2011 – only Robin van Persie (33) and Wayne Rooney (22) have scored more this year.
• Yohan Cabaye will trigger a one-match ban if he is booked for the fifth time this season.

Swansea

• Swansea have kept seven clean sheets in the league – the joint highest with Manchester United.
• This is Swansea’s 100th match in top-flight football.
• Scott Sinclair has attempted 55 shots this season. Only Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Luis Suarez and Clint Dempsey have attempted more.
• Danny Graham is poised to make his 250th career league appearance.
• Michel Vorm has made more saves from shots inside the box (38) than any other Premier League goalkeeper this season.