Fabianski says Newcastle United have given Swansea a ‘reality check’

Lucasz Fabianski was Swansea’s best player.

The goalkeeper pulling off a number of saves to keep the scores level but could do nothing to prevent Jamaal Lascelles rocket header with 14 minutes remaining.

The final statistics saw eight attempts on target compared to Swansea’s four and amongst his saves, was a world class fingertip one that prevented a Joselu header giving Newcastle a half-time lead.

Fabianski says that the defeat to Newcastle ‘has given us a bit of a reality check’.

The Swansea keeper adding ‘you could tell everyone was up for it’ but that Newcastle ‘looked more solid as a team and…I feel we probably got what we deserved’.

After an opening 20 minutes or so where they kept it tight, Newcastle then began to play themselves and instantly looked to be a threat at the other end of the pitch.

We all wondered whether beating West Ham 3-0 was overwhelmingly to do with how poor they were on the day – but this victory in Wales suggests there is real character and potential in this team to be more than cannon fodder this season.

Lukasz Fabianski:

“The result has given us a bit of a reality check.

“With our new signings and the atmosphere at the start of the match, you could tell that everyone was up for it.

“But we did not deliver it on the pitch and got punished for it.

“They looked more solid as a team and had some good chances on goal and I feel we probably got what we deserved.

“The more time we have as a team the more we will click together.

“We have to be aggressive and have to perfect our marking on corners.

“This is where we need to be getting more of our wins and points. So far we have not been able to do that. We must look to turn things around pretty quickly.

“I am confident we will do that and make the Liberty Stadium our fortress.”

Stats from BBC Sport:

Swansea 0 Newcastle 1

Goals:

Newcastle: Lascelles 76

Possession was Swansea 62% Newcastle 38%

Total shots were  Swansea 10 Newcastle 16

Shots on target were Swansea  4 Newcastle 8

Corners were  Swansea 7 Newcastle 5

Referee: Mike Jones

Newcastle United:

Elliot, Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Gamez, Ritchie, Hayden (Diame 69), Merino, Murphy (Atsu 59), Perez, Joselu (Gayle 78)

Unused Subs:

Woodman, Shelvey, Yedlin, Lejeune

Crowd: 20,872 (2,000 Newcastle)

(Read instant NUFC fan/writer reaction after final whistle HERE)

(Read Alan Shearer’s reaction to the Newcastle win HERE)

(Give us your Newcastle player ratings v Swansea HERE)

(Credit to Swansea boss Paul Clement for this post-match reaction HERE)

(Steve Claridge says Newcastle ‘Nicked it’)