FT REPORT: Swansea City 2-1 Manchester United

FT REPORT: SWANSEA CITY 2-1 MANCHESTER UNITED

Brandon Smith Reports

Andre Ayew and Bafatembi Gomis cancelled out Juan Matas goal to leapfrog Manchester United in the table. 

Louis Van Gaal's Manchester United were looking for revenge for last seasons double defeat to Swansea City as they faced Monks Swansea at the Liberty on Sunday evening. 

Rooney's woes in front of goal came to an end midweek as Manchester United slammed Club Brugge but it was all a Austin of whether he could replicate that against the welsh side who had no injury concerns coming into the game.

Marouane Fellaini also returns to the United lineup after serving his league suspension.

It was just over 120 seconds before Swansea were under fire as Memphis drew a foul from Naughton. From the free kick he found the target but was palmed away by Fabianski.

Swansea woke up after that and tried to wrestle their way back into the match but could only seem to break down United by fouling them. In a weekend with so many red cards you might be forgiven for expecting one here too.

Manchester Uniteds defence was tested by Gomis and Routledge but stood strong, breaking down any welsh attacks and dominating possession.

Swansea then found themselves having to contain a promising attack from United as Luke Shaw found an advancing Rooney however Williams was quick to dispossess the striker on a league drought still.

Andre Herrera then worked some magic and teed up Juan Mata whose shot failed to test Fabianski. A few boos from United as the Spaniard really should have at least found the target. 

It was then Swansea who were calling the shots and the hosts began to cause major problems for the Red Devils as Shelvey's free kick following a smalling foul found Sigurdsonn who's improvised shot went tantalisingly close to putting the swans ahead. 

Then Uniteds keeper made an error following a simple clearance. Romero miss kicked straight to Shelvey who controlled the ball with his chest well but Vollied Straight at the goalkeeper to give Romero a very lucky break.

Swansea once again came close, and possibly should have scored, as Bafatembi Gomis cut superbly in from the corner of the box only to see his strike dink against the outside of the post.

United then rallied and organised themselves but troubles for Romero continued as he once again fluffed his clearance but was once again saved as a pass to Ayew failed to reach the target man and was cleared.

Uniteds frustration was beginning to show and quick fire bookings for Schneiderlin, Memphis and Darmian for all silly fouls reinforced that as Swansea's attacking game was starting to look troublesome. But the break came as the game was still goalless.

The opening goal came seemingly as soon as the second half whistle blew as Juan Mata picked up a Shaw cross which Rooney missed allowing the midfielder to drive home from close range.

Routledge had been struggling to find his feet throughout the game and no one was surprised to see Ki replace him.

And then on 60 minutes Swansea equalised.

Ayew connected with a Sigurdsonn cross and headed the ball down past Romero for the Argentine to concede his first goal of the season. 

With the game all square it was fast becoming a welsh dominated game, and 6 minutes later Bafatembi Gomis scored. Ayew was once again amongst the goal as he arched a perfect ball for Gomis who squeezed through Smalling and Darmian to nudge the ball under Romero. 

With the scoreline as it was last season the welsh wizardry looked to have worked its magic for a 3rd time as Swansea continued to dominate throughout the last 25 minutes. 

Wayne Rooney then had a chance for an equaliser as the 29 year old controlled the ball wonderfully from Darmian's cross but took too long and allowed Williams to slide in to avert the late danger as United threw the kitchen sink at Swansea for the last 5 minutes. Rooney cried out foul but the referee wasn't interested. 

The final score was 2-1 to Swansea who had done well to keep the ball out of their net on numerous occasions which has allowed them to leapfrog United in the table, they are fast becoming a united bogey team.

LINEUPS

SWANSEA CITY

Gary Monk

GOALKEEPER - L. Fabianski

DEFENDERS - K. Naughton, F. Fernandez, 

A. Williams, N. Taylor

MIDFIELDERS - J. Cork, J. Shelvey, G. Sigurdsonn, W. Routledge

FORWARDS - A. Ayew, B. Gomis

MANCHESTER UNITED 

Louis Van Gaal

GOALKEEPER - S. Romero 

DEFENDERS - M. Darmian, C. Smalling, D. Blind, 

L. Shaw

MIDFIELDERS - Memphis, S. Schweinsteiger, 

A. Herrera, M. Schneiderlin, J. Mata 

FORWARDS - W. Rooney