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Michu and Jonathan de Guzman were on target as Swansea secured their second away victory of the season and their first win over Newcastle in 32 years.
Pablo Hernandez capitalised on home goalkeeper Tim Krul’s poor clearance on 58 minutes to set up Michu’s opener.
With three minutes remaining, De Guzman doubled Swansea’s lead from close range after Krul denied Danny Graham.
Demba Ba’s stoppage-time header proved little consolation for Newcastle, who lost their second successive home game.
Newcastle were dealt a blow before kick-off with Senegal invoking Fifa’s five-day rule to prevent striker Papiss Cisse from playing and replacement Sammy Ameobi was one of three changes in the home side.
On loan striker Itay Shechter was handed a first Premier League start in place of the injured Ki Sung-Yueng while Nathan Dyer was preferred to former Newcastle player Wayne Routledge.
Dyer, who had scored the previous week at Southampton, found himself through on goal early on after being played in by Shechter but under pressure from Steven Taylor the winger shot harmlessly wide of the post.
Both sides showed plenty of promise during a lively opening with Pablo Hernandez firing straight at home keeper Tim Krul before Newcastle’s Hatem Ben Arfa slammed a shot into the side netting after linking up well with Danny Simpson.
Krul made a low save to parry Michu’s effort from outside the area while at the other end captain Taylor headed over the crossbar from Vurnon Anita’s corner.
The home side were beginning to force their way into the game and from Ben Arfa’s excellent delivery from the right into the box, Demba Ba got in between Ashley Williams and Garry Monk but glanced his header wide from 10 yards.
Ben Arfa was seeing plenty of the ball and the French international tricked his way past two players on the edge of the area before curling in a dipping effort which forced Gerhard Tremmel into making a fine one-handed save.
But Swansea were looking impressive on the counter attack and Shechter capitalised on hesitation in the Newcastle defence to force a save from Krul before Michu dragged his shot wide as the half ended goalless.
The hosts began the second half brightly with the Ameobi brothers – Sammy and half-time substitute Shola – combining to tee up Anita, who fired over the crossbar from 25 yards while Ba also had two chances in quick succession.
Having survived those scares Swansea responded on the counter attack and Shechter should have done better when on receiving the ball from Hernandez he fired from 15 yards before Krul had to dive to turn a Hernandez shot around the post.
But the visitors did not have to wait too long for the game’s long awaited opening goal and it was the Newcastle keeper who was to blame.
Krul’s poor clearance following Mike Williamson’s back pass fell to Hernadez, whose cross from the left found the advancing Michu to head home his eighth goal of the season.
Rather than sit back on their lead Swansea continued to push forward and Michu should have added a second but the Spaniard scuffed shot from close range following Hernandez’s cross.
Swansea wrapped up the victory three minutes from time when Krul could only parry substitute Graham’s shot and de Guzman netted the rebound.
Ba’s stoppage time header after substitute Sylvain Marveaux had struck the bar was scant consolation for Alan Pardew’s side, who have now won only one of their last ten league games.
