NEWCASTLE: Newcastle closed the gap on its relegation rivals by beating Swansea 3-0 in the English Premier League.

Defender Jamaal Lascelles opened the scoring 41 minutes into the match Saturday on a header from an Andros Townsend corner. Moussa Sissoko got Newcastle's second of the game in the 82nd before Andros Townsend beat goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski with a fine finish to make it 3-0.

It is Newcastle's first win in 8 games as well as its first victory under manager Rafa Benitez. They remain in 19th place, 3 points from safety with a game in hand over 17th place Norwich. Swansea is in 15th.