Newcastle United 0 Swansea City 0

Dec 18 2011 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

NEWCASTLE United are stuck in the rough – and it seems as if no amount of birdies are going to get them out of it.

Alan Pardew confessed his Magpies were enduring their first “rough patch” of the season after getting shot down by the Canaries of Norwich last weekend, and it was no better against a wedge of Swans flocking from South Wales this Saturday.

The bad news? West Brom’s Throstles roll into town on Wednesday, presumably with a mission to clip black-and-white wings in the same way that Brendan Rodgers’ men did here.

For suddenly things aren’t going Newcastle’s way – and St James’ Park isn’t quite the happy hunting ground it was four weeks ago.

Not that there was a great deal wrong with United’s performance here.

They prompted and passed and for 45 fine first-half minutes they pressed Swansea into submission with some slick passing stuff.

But despite Demba Ba’s brio and the ingenuity of Yohan Cabaye there was no application of a killer touch – a pretty serious deficiency for a team being rapidly caught by the Premier League’s chasing pack.

Perhaps during their autumn purple patch one of Ba’s brilliant moments would have yielded a goal.

For the Senegal striker was a joy to behold at times, twisting and turning Swansea’s back four during a sparkling individual display.

But the visitors always seemed to have the answers – whether that was through a lucky bounce, an inspired block or smart save from their eminently capable keeper Michel Vorm.

Although anxiety is growing, Pardew seemed serene afterwards.

He couldn’t find fault with the effort or application of his team – although referee Lee Mason prompted a growl by doling out Cabaye’s fifth booking of the season in the second half.

Suspended for Wednesday, United will miss his finesse as they look to reverse this fallow run.

That old maxim about not taking your chances applied here as Newcastle created plenty during an encouraging first half.

Cabaye’s dead-ball delivery was spot on and helped supply three of the best early chances.

His third-minute free-kick swerved and dipped just over the bar before another testing delivery was headed into Tiote’s path, only for the over-eager Ivorian to send a half-volley soaring into the stands.

Then United nicked the post, Coloccini diving to connect with a Cabaye free-kick that sliced through the Swans’ defence. Ba then stepped up, sending a bouncing volley at the start of a mad 10-minute spell.

He nearly back-heeled a Davide Santon cross-in before a brilliant bicycle kick was blocked by Vorm.

The best effort, though, came on the stroke of the half-time as Jonas Gutierrez sent an angled drive whistling past Vorm’s right-hand post. If St James’ Park sniffed blood, they were to end up disappointed.

Swansea tightened things up in the second half and allowed Newcastle little of the room to manoeuvre that they had benefited from in the first half.

Aside from a Cabaye effort that rolled into the side netting and a low drive from sub Shola Ameobi, United barely threatened.