A VITAL 3-0 win over Swansea City at St James’ Park gave Newcastle United and Rafael Benitez a glimmer of hope they can still achieve Premier League survival.

Goals from Jamal Lascelles, Moussa Sissoko and Andros Townsend secured the Magpies' first win since February 6, and saw them climb within three points of safety after Sunderland had beaten Norwich City earlier in the day.

The Magpies will now go into Tuesday night’s game in hand against Manchester City with a renewed sense of belief that they can avoid relegation to the Championship.

Benitez promised to make changes following last weekend’s dismal display at Southampton and he kept to his word.

Paul Dummett, Jack Colback, Lascelles and Cheick Tiote all came in for Daryl Janmaat, Steven Taylor, Jonjo Shelvey, Ayoze Perez and Aleksander Mitrovic.

Sunderland’s lunchtime win over Norwich blew the relegation battle wide open, but the Magpies needed to win to give Tyneside any hope that they will still be watching Premier League football next season.

In the ninth minute Townsend had a great opportunity to get the ball rolling early, but his low shot following good pressure on the Swansea backline was saved by Lukasz Fabianski.

Moussa Sissoko followed up with a strong curling effort a few minutes later, but the Frenchman couldn’t keep it down.

Both sides struggled to maintain possession in the first half and chances were at a premium for the visitors. Their first sniff at goal came with 35 minutes gone when the ball fell to Alberto Paloschi inside the area but Karl Darlow was able to collect the ball with ease.

The Swans’ pressure continued when they broke into the Magpies’ box once again, but Chancel Mbemba was on hand to make a last ditch tackle.

Newcastle responded well to the visitors’ pressure and Townsend forced another save from Fabianski after he had cut inside from the right.

The chances they had created were hardly clear-cut, but the all-important breakthrough finally came four minutes before the break.

Townsend sent a corner towards the near post and there was the recalled Lascelles to bundle home from close range. Cue a huge sense of relief - and belief – around St James’ Park.

Given the amount of goals conceded in recent week, Newcastle went searching for a second goal after the break and Jack Colback went close to providing it when he shot over from Townsend’s cut back to the edge of the area.

Protecting a one goal lead isn’t a strong point of Newcastle’s, so as the second half wore on and Swansea pushed forward for an equaliser the need to strike again increased.

And after Jonjo Shelvey and Ayoze Perez were introduced, Swansea had a great chance to level. The ball fell to Jefferson Montero on the left-hand side of the area, but with only Darlow to beat the attacker sent his low shot whistling past the post.

Substitute Bafetimbi Gomis tried his luck with a shot from inside the area, but to Newcastle’s relief the ball sailed over.

The tension was palpable inside St James’ Park, but that evaporated with 82 minutes gone when a second goal finally arrived for Benitez’s men.

Good work from Mitovic and Perez won a corner and from Townsend’s set piece stand-in captain Moussa Sissoko smashed home to make it 2-0.

Two became three when Mitrovic fed the impressive Townsend to slip the ball under Fabianski in the 90th minute and give the Magpies hope of survival.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Darlow; Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett; Tiote (Shelvey, 66), Colback; Townsend, Sissoko, Wijnaldum (Perez, 73); Cisse (Mitrovic, 80).

Subs (not used): Woodman, Obertan, Aarons, de Jong.

Swansea (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Rangel, Williams, Fernandez, Taylor; Fer (Barrow, 58), Cork; Montero, Sigurdsson, Ayew (Gomis, 71); Paloschi (Routledge, 84).

Subs (not used): Nordfeldt, Amat, Naughton, Britton.

HOW TWITTER REACTED TO THE WIN:

Dane Burford ‏@BurfordDane  

Excellent day for the toon absolutely buzzing tonight can't wait for match of the day! we're back in the mix now!! #NEWSWA #NUFC

Shaun Durning ‏@SDMorpeth  

Steven Taylor not being anywhere near that squad today was a massive aide in us winning today #nufc

stephen potter ‏@ste331  

So Rafa here's the plan beat man city and my Spanish waiter you could be a Geordie ledge #NUFC

#FordeHaveMercy ‏@FordeEsq  

I Love It When I'm Wrong And #NUFC Are Right! Stick An Armband On #Sissoko And All Of A Sudden He's A Worldbeater 󾌴

Chris Wilkin ‏@chris_wilkin  

First #NUFC win since the bairn was born...9 weeks ago tomorrow...