Chris Hughton has said that the Swans have discovered the near perfect formula

Swansea City take on Hughton's Newcastle this afternoon amid a string of praise from the former defender who was handed the permanent role at the club this season.

And he is certainmly not underestimating the Swans side that is unbeaten in eleven and just three places behind his promotion favourites.

“What they’ve got is almost a perfect formula,” said the former Spurs assistant manager in the Western Mail.

“They are a very good passing team who accept responsibility on the ball. But they also don’t concede many goals.

“What I expect to face are a very good side who hold possession well. They get into the right areas and they are a team that defensively will get bodies back behind the ball and make themselves tough to beat.

“Swansea are a form team and we’ve had form teams come to St James’ in the past and put up a good account of themselves. The onus is on us to win.

“Paulo’s got stuck in at Swansea and he’s continued the work of Roberto Martinez,” said the former Republic of Ireland international.

“I would imagine he’s there because Swansea see him of similar quality and somebody who can’t disrupt how they were going to play.

“They’ve got a steel and a resilience that has resulted in them being on the run they are on, to go unbeaten through so many games and get so many clean sheets.”

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