Hughton saw his Toon side win their fifth successive game in emphatic fashion thanks to a Marlon Harewood brace and a Peter Lovenkrands header before half-time.
The Swans improved after the break and could have reduced the deficit, but came away goalless and pointless from the North East.
“I asked for a high-tempo start and after half an hour I was delighted – I couldn’t have asked for any more,” he said.
“To get three goals in that period was tremendous and it has won us the game.“It would have been nice to add a couple more, of course, but take nothing away from Swansea; they’re a side in form and we were never going to get it all our own way.
“You will see numerous games where a team has taken a lead and after half-time the result stays the same.
“But it was certainly an excellent first half and I am delighted with the result.”
