The Icelandic midfielder (on loan from German Bundesliga side Hoffenheim) was last night named the Premier League player of the month after his four goals helped Swansea to three wins from four games in March.
Sigurdsson made his name as a goal-scoring midfielder with Reading and 18 goals in 42 appearances in the Championship helped him seal a £6.5m move to Hoffenheim in 2010.
Despite nine goals in 36 games for the German club, he fell down the pecking order and was playing in the reserves before being rescued by Rodgers in January.
Brendan Rodgers: “He’s very much in the Frank Lampard mould.
“If you look at him, he gets into the six-yard box, he’s willing to get his shot off and he can go right foot or left foot.
“And he can score with his head like he did at Fulham.
“He’s a goal-scoring midfielder and you don’t get too many of those.
“He is still very young but he is a player that at this level can do very well.
“He’s also got the same hunger as Frank. Frank was always a player who always wanted to get better every single day.
“He’s got that instinct. It’s something that he was born with, but it’s also something he works very hard at.
“It’s not by accident, he works very hard at it and you can’t tell which is his stronger foot.
“Gylfi and Scott Sinclair have great competitions every day on their shooting and their finishing.
“They’ve got a wonderful camaraderie there but it’s also competitive.
“He’s been a wonderful acquisition to the club.
“I knew what I would be getting and he has come in and delivered brilliantly. Let’s hope he can keep it up until the end of the season.”
Sigurdsson becomes the first Swansea player to scoop a Premier League player of the month award.
LIBERTY STADIUM - SWANSEA CITY
How To Get There By Car or Coach & Where To Park
Leave the M4 at Junction 45 and take the A4067 towards the City Centre (sign posted A4067 South). Stay on the A4067 for around two and half miles and you will reach the stadium on your left. Car parking at the stadium is for permit holders only and most of the immediate residential areas around the stadium now have 'residents only' parking schemes in place. However away mini buses and coaches can park behind the North Stand in a fenced compound, at a cost of £20 per coach and £10 per minibus. Don't be tempted to park on the nearby Retail Park as you may well end up with a ticket, or worse still, clamped for your trouble!
Away Fans Park & Ride Facility
Away supporters are being encouraged to use the Park & Ride facility located at the Felindre old steel works site, which is signposted off Junction 46, shortly after leaving the M4. The cost of parking there including transport by bus to and from the stadium is £6 per car. Away supporters have their own separate buses to and from the stadium, with the buses waiting outside the away stand at the end of the game to take supporters back to the car park. Simon Wright a visiting West Bromwich Albion fan adds; 'The park and ride is located in the middle of nowhere, but curiously has a high fence. Apparently the facility is also used as a park and ride for the DVLA so the fencing may be for the benefit of their staff. There are toilets on the site although they do look rather ancient. All the staff were friendly and the buses frequent. After the game has ended, the park and ride buses leave the compound with the away coaches for fairly obvious reasons. In my case, this meant a wait of around 20 minutes'.
There is also some street parking to be had. If coming from the M4, you pass the stadium on your left and continue straight on towards Swansea, then after going under a bridge, then there are a number of roads on the right, where on street parking is available. It is then around a 10-15 minute walk to the stadium. However, please note that after the game has ended the Police close the A4067 road running past the stadium, meaning that you can't go back up to the M4 that way. You need to instead go back up to the stadium and where the road is closed turn right at the roundabout onto the A4217. At the next roundabout turn left continuing away from Swansea City Centre. At the junction with the A48 turn right and this takes you up to Junction 44 of the M4.
Andrew Bartlett a visiting Southampton fan adds; 'I intended to use the park and ride and followed the signs but found the site to be desolate wasteland with flooded potholes, not very inviting at all. Instead I drove on to the stadium and despite the dire warnings found free on street parking only a few minute's walk away and almost traffic free after the match. The level of security and large Police presence was completely unnecessary for such a low key game'.
By Train
Swansea Railway Station is on the main line route from London Paddington. It is about two miles from the stadium. Regular local bus services (every ten minutes: routes 4, 4a, 120, 122, 125, 132) and taxis (around £5) are available from the train station to the stadium. Otherwise if you have time on your hands and wish to embark on the 25-30 minute walk, then as you come out of the station turn right and go up the High Street. At the traffic lights turn right into Neath Road. Proceed straight along Neath Road and you will eventually reach the stadium on your right. Thanks to Tom Evans for providing the directions.
What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are housed in the North Stand at one end of the stadium, where up to 2,000 fans can be accommodated. This is increased to 2,500 for Cup games. The views of the playing action from this area are excellent as there is a good height between rows and the leg room is probably the most generous of any stadium that I have visited. The concourses are spacious, with food and beverage outlets, plus a number of television sets, for pre-match and half time entertainment. As you would expect from a new stadium the facilities are good. Away fans are separated from home fans by two metal barriers, with a line of stewards and Police in-between. Interestingly, the main singing contingent of home fans, have, in the traditions of the Vetch Field, situated themselves along one side of the pitch in the East Stand, rather than at the South end of the stadium.
David McNeil informs me; 'As a West Brom fan on holiday in Swansea, I visited the new stadium for the first League game against Tranmere. The stadium is very impressive and the facilities inside the stadium are excellent. Large concourse and great views from the stands. The atmosphere generated by the Swansea fans was excellent throughout the 90 minutes and it will become an intimidating place just as the Vetch used to be. Pre match entertainment was enjoyed by my kids especially the antics of Cyril the Swan. Great day out, would love to visit the ground again when West Brom play there'.
Tickets will not be sold to away supporters by Swansea City on the day of the match, so do not travel unless you already have a ticket from your own Club. It is also worth bearing in mind that the Swansea fans are passionate about their club and this can make for an intimidating atmosphere. Exercise caution around the ground.
Steve Griffiths adds; 'On the nearby retail park, there is a KFC & Pizza Hut – within 5 minutes walk. Opposite the stadium is a very nice chippy called ‘Rossi’s’. As well as the usual chips with fish, pies, sausages, etc.. they also do salads and jacket potatoes'.
Where To Drink?
Phil Weston a visiting Stoke City fan informs me; 'The Liberty Stadium is a lot more friendly than the old Vetch Field. Stoke fans were drinking in The Harvester and Frankie & Benny's just outside the ground and a couple of the pubs just up from the stadium'.
Otherwise it a choice of a drink on the way to Swansea, go into the city centre or drink inside the stadium.
Merv Williams informs me; 'There are a number of pubs on Wind (pronounced as winding a watch) Street in the centre of town, such as Yates, the Bank Statement and the No Sign Bar (the latter being listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Ask for Castle Gardens, and you'll see Wind Street'. Mick Clarkson a visiting Preston North End fan adds; 'After leaving the train station we proceeded up the High Street and went into the Full Moon public house. The locals both young and old were very friendly and we had a good laugh with all in there both before and after the game. Basic pub with pool table and Sky Sports and a Leeds fan for a landlord and excellent cheap beer'.
Alcohol in the form of Carling (£3.20 a pint) and Worthington (£3.20 a pint) are served within the stadium. The Club open the turnstiles 90 minutes before kick off, so that fans have the option to eat & drink within the stadium itself.
2009/10 LAST VISIT TO THE LIBERTY:
SWANSEA CITY 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 1
SWANSEA: De Vries, Williams, Tate, Monk, Bessone (Rangel 7), Pratley, Orlandi, Dyer (Butler 80), Cotterill, Allen, Kuqi (Pintado 74).
Subs Not Used: Cornell, Trundle, Gower, Richards.
NEWCASTLE: Harper, Coloccini, Hall, Simpson, Van Aanholt, Guthrie, Nolan, Routledge, Smith, Lovenkrands (Best 66), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Williamson, Ryan Taylor, Pancrate, Kadar, Ranger.
Att: 15,188
Andy Carroll's 87th-minute header took Newcastle back to the top of the Championship and broke Swansea hearts with a deserved victory snatched away from them at the Liberty Stadium.
It was the impressive David Cotterill who looked to have proved the difference for the hosts with an exquisite effort from the edge of the area shortly after the restart.
It was nothing less than the Swans deserved having enjoyed more possession over the course of the game, although without really turning their dominance into goalscoring opportunities.
But Carroll, who was somewhat fortunate to still be on the pitch following a nasty foul on Garry Monk just minutes earlier, headed home Leon Best's cross from close range in the closing minutes.
It was the first goal City have conceded in over six hours but, nevertheless, the point extended their unbeaten run to 12 league games and saw them leapfrog rivals Cardiff into fourth place.
Chris Hughton will be relieved to have snatched a point having already seen his Newcastle side's club-record 15-match unbeaten league run abruptly ended by a 3-0 defeat at Derby in midweek. Newcastle now lead West Brom at the summit by one point.
The hosts started on the front foot with a succession of corners but after just seven minutes left-back Federico Bessone was forced off with what appeared to be a calf injury.
Swansea dominated possession but had few chances to show for it, with Andrea Orlandi's 21st-minute free-kick drifting wide.
City's lack of creativity up front almost came back to haunt them soon after as Kevin Nolan - with 10 league goals to his name this season - headed the best chance of the opening half-hour wide.
Swansea were still the dominant force as the interval approached, forcing a couple of half-chances, although the Magpies were showing glimpses of their threat going forward.
The Swans started the second half in the same fashion as they started the first, and Nathan Dyer whistled an effort inches wide from around 25 yards as Orlandi and Shefki Kuqi also went close.
Darren Pratley was next to pose a threat before Cotterill finally broke the deadlock with his second goal in the space of a week.
The midfielder received the ball on the edge of the area, feigned to shoot before picking his spot and curling an unstoppable effort into the top corner past a helpless Steve Harper.
Swansea continued to look strong after grabbing the initiative and Ashley Williams wasted a great chance to register a second when he headed well off-target from four yards out.
Newcastle were struggling to create any clear-cut openings for an equaliser, but Carroll was to emerge as their saviour with three minutes of normal time to go.
He showed his striker's instinct to head a late leveller from Best's cross to deny Swansea a first win over their north-east opponents in over 30 years.
MAGPIES v SWANS - THE HISTORY:
2011/2012 Sat 17 Dec Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Swansea City Premier League
2009/2010 Sat 13 Feb Swansea City 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Championship
Sat 28 Nov Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Swansea City Championship
1994/1995 Sat 28 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Swansea City F.A. Cup
1983/1984 Sat 31 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Swansea City Second Division
Sun 16 Oct Swansea City 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1980/1981 Sat 13 Dec Swansea City 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 18 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Swansea City Second Division
1979/1980 Sat 19 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Swansea City Second Division
Sat 24 Nov Swansea City 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1964/1965 Sat 27 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Swansea Tn. Second Division
Sat 09 Jan Swansea Tn. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Sat 14 Nov Swansea Tn. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1963/1964 Tue 17 Mar Swansea Tn. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 05 Oct Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Swansea Tn. Second Division
1962/1963 Sat 16 Mar Swansea Tn. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 27 Oct Newcastle Utd. 6 - 0 Swansea Tn. Second Division
1961/1962 Fri 02 Feb Swansea Tn. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 16 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Swansea Tn. Second Division
1952/1953 Sat 10 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Swansea Tn. F.A. Cup
1951/1952 Sat 23 Feb Swansea Tn. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
1946/1947 Sat 04 Jan Swansea Tn. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 07 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Swansea Tn. Second Division
1938/1939 Sat 22 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Swansea Tn. Second Division
Sat 17 Dec Swansea Tn. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1937/1938 Sat 30 Apr Swansea Tn. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 18 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Swansea Tn. Second Division
1936/1937 Sat 17 Apr Swansea Tn. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 12 Dec Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 Swansea Tn. Second Division
1935/1936 Sat 11 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Swansea Tn. Second Division
Sat 26 Oct Swansea Tn. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1934/1935 Sat 16 Feb Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 Swansea Tn. Second Division
Sat 06 Oct Swansea Tn. 3 - 4 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1914/1915 Sat 06 Feb Swansea Tn. 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Sat 30 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Swansea Tn. F.A. Cup
SWANSEA'S CURRENT FORM:
Tottenham 3 Swansea 1
APRIL 1: Barclays Premier League at White Hart Lane.
Swansea 0 Everton 2
MARCH 24: Barclays Premier League at the Liberty Stadium.
Fulham 0 Swansea 3
MARCH 17: Barclays Premier League at Craven Cottage.
Swansea 1 Manchester City 0
MARCH 11: Barclays Premier League at the Liberty Stadium.
Wigan 0 Swansea 2
MARCH 3: Barclays Premier League at the DW Stadium.
Stoke 2 Swansea 0
FEBRUARY 26: Barclays Premier League at the Britannia Stadium.