But the Welshmen held firm, particularly in the second half, to frustrate Pardew, his players and the majority of a crowd of 51,767.

However, the manager said: “I really can’t complain too much about my side. We stopped them playing, which was the aim, to put them under pressure and force errors, which we did.

“The first half was our better half, for sure. We got in behind and we created chances, we put balls into the box.

“But they haven’t got seven clean sheets for nothing. There is a good spirit in the Swansea team and although they didn’t keep possession like they would have liked today, they defended very, very well and the goalie looked strong.

“Everything we tried to do today, they seemed to have an answer. But having said that, with a little break here and there, we would have got the goal and I think we would have won this game.

“But overall, I’m actually not that disappointed. I thought we played well today.”

Newcastle might have had the points wrapped up before half-time after they ripped into Swansea in a bid to end their four-game wait for a Barclays Premier League win.

Returning skipper Fabricio Coloccini hit the post with a 19th-minute diving header, and Demba Ba was denied by an upright four minutes later with keeper Michel Vorm beaten on both occasions.

However, the Dutchman pulled off a fine 42nd-minute save to keep out Ba’s well-struck volley and was relieved to see Jonas Gutierrez’s piledriver fly inches wide two minutes later.

The Magpies piled on the pressure after the break, but rarely to the same effect, and had Scott Sinclair not scuffed a 74th-minute effort across goal, the visitors might even have left Tyneside with all the points.

Newcastle still have a chance to reach the 30-point mark, Pardew’s target for Christmas Day, when West Brom arrive on Tyneside on Wednesday evening, and the manager is convinced there will be no need to lift his players.

He said: “We played well today, in my opinion. We looked a strong side and on another afternoon, if one of those had gone in in the first half, we could sitting here saying a very different story.”

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers, who worked under Pardew at Reading, was understandably delighted with the result.

He said: “It was a fantastic performance from us today. It was always going to be a very difficult game coming here.

“Newcastle have had a terrific start to their season and with over 50,000 passionate Geordies, it’s always a difficult place to come.

“But the players showed wonderful resilience today to get our eighth clean sheet in 16 games.”

Before kick-off, the Magpies paid their respects to former midfielder Gary Speed, with his parents Roger and Carol and sons Ed and Tommy being joined on the pitch by close friends Alan Shearer, Steve Harper and John Carver.

Pardew said: “It was a chance for the Geordie folk to show their respect for Gary and their love for him, and they did that in a really magical way.

“It was hairs on the back of your neck stuff there, and I am sure his family were very, very pleased and happy with that.”

Welsh tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones led the crowd in a rendition of the hymn Bread of Heaven in a tribute which was also appreciated by the Swansea contingent.

Rodgers said: “Roger and his family will never forget that. It was a lovely touch by Newcastle and congratulations to them.”

Meanwhile, Pardew declined to comment on reports that Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga’s proposed move to Newcastle has been scuppered by a failed medical.