Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
An early strike from Javier Hernandez proved the difference in Wales as Manchester United overcame a good Swansea City side who certainly based on their performance yesterday should avoid relegation back down to the Championship.
With Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City winning at home to Newcastle earlier in the afternoon, it was vital that United didn’t slip up and lose even more ground on the side many pundits are tipping for the title after their great start to the season.
Backed by a roaring crowd behind them in the Liberty Stadium, Swansea started the game well moving the ball about well. Sadly that philosophy which has won them many friends so far this season proved to be their downfall as Angel Rangel’s loose pass in defence fell straight to Ryan Giggs who only had to look up and find Hernandez inside the area who scooped the ball in over Michel Worm.
Brendan Rodgers looked far from happy with his Spanish defender whose mistake caused the Swans to concede their first home league goal of the season. Mind you though had his pass led to Swansea breaking clear and scoring, everyone inside the ground would have said it was a ‘great pass.’ After all, you win some and you lose some, that’s football.
Despite Rangel’s error, Swansea should have been level within 10 minutes of going behind. A poor clearance by Michael Carrick unfortunately fell straight into the path of Wayne Routledge. The winger drove forward into the area and saw his intended cross to Scott Sinclair at the back-post, deflected perfectly to the talented English winger’s path. With the goal gaping, somehow Sinclair managed to fluff his line and United gratefully cleared the ball to safety. It was a lucky escape.
Swansea to their credit didn’t let Sinclair’s howler haunt them as they continued to press forward with Nathan Dyer in particular looking impressive. United though looked in control in the middle of the park and but for a misplaced Hernandez pass just before the interval intended for Rooney to slot home inside the area, would probably have sealed the game before half-time.
After the interval Sir Alex Ferguson took Patrice Evra off for Fabio after the left-back was booked for a clumsy looking foul on Dyer. It was a smart and brave decision to take of the reliable Frenchman but Fabio came on and held his own against the talented winger.
A great run by Sinclair presented Swansea’s club-record signing Danny Graham with a chance to equalise but Carrick did well to block his shot before Nemanja Vidic blocked a shot on the follow-up. Rooney had two shots on goal in the closing stages before a good break from Phil Jones ended with the youngster hammering a shot onto the near post.
To their manager’s credit Swansea had made United work hard for their win and Brendan Rodgers whilst disappointed about losing the game must have taken heart in that. For United, it’s a third consecutive 1-0 win on the trot in the league showing that after the horror that was the Manchester Derby, that the defence could well be back to its best.
United: De Gea, Evra (Fabio), Ferdinand, Vidic, Jones, Park, Carrick, Giggs (Fletcher), Nani, Rooney, Hernandez (Valencia)
Star Man
Whilst it was not a game that United could go out and wipe the floor off of Swansea and after going ahead through Hernandez’s goal, they stayed calm and kept organized. Ryan Giggs had a good game and was there tracking back and winning the ball as he played his first league game in Wales at the tender age of 37. It was fitting that he was applauded off from all parts of the ground when he was substituted late on for Fletcher.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
