Newcastle United's Dan Gosling (C) is challenged by Swansea City's Wayne Routledge (L) and Leon Britton during their English Premier League match in Swansea Friday. — Reuters LONDON — Newcastle United's in-form striker Papiss Cisse struck twice to lead his side to a 2-0 win at Swansea City in the Premier league Friday that lifted it above Chelsea into fifth place. The Senegal international, fast becoming one of the best signings of the season after arriving from Bundesliga struggler Freiburg in January, scored in each half to give Alan Pardew's team 56 points from 32 matches. Chelsea (53 points), however, can go back above Newcastle on goal difference by winning at home to second from bottom Wigan Athletic Saturday. Tottenham Hotspur, in the fourth and final Champions League qualification spot on 58 points, visits Sunderland also Saturday. Leader Manchester United (76 points) hosts Queens Park Rangers Sunday when second-placed Manchester City (71) visits Arsenal (58) which is in third position. Cisse opened the scoring in the fifth minute when he picked up an excellent pass from Yohan Cabaye and fired a low shot past Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm. Swansea, which is 11th in the 20-team table, enjoyed plenty of first-half possession but rarely troubled Tim Krul in the Newcastle goal. Cisse went close to a second goal in the 65th minute when he sent a fierce low drive whistling past Vorm's right-hand post. The Senegalese then put the game beyond Swansea with a delightful goal four minutes later. Cisse received the ball from Cabaye in an awkward position 15 meters out but he showed great dexterity to get it out from under his feet and deliver a pinpoint chip that sailed over Vorn into the net. It was his sixth goal in his last three league appearance and his ninth in eight matches for Newcastle. Critical weekend Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes the destiny of an intriguing battle for the English Premier League title could be decided this weekend. The mathematics of the situation have become increasingly stark for City, bidding to be crowned champion of England for the first time since 1968, as it has dropped points in recent weeks. It is currently five points behind leader and reigning champion Manchester United. And that deficit could be increased to eight points by the time it kicks off against Arsenal Sunday, should United beat QPR earlier in the day. If that happens, and City loses to Arsenal, the Eastlands club would be eight points behind its local rival with just six games left. Mancini, asked if such a scenario would mean the end of the title race, said Thursday: “If we lose against Arsenal and they beat QPR – yes.”
