Sunday 6 November 2016

Match report: Swansea 1-3 United

United returned to winning ways and Zlatan ended his goal drought as we cruised to victory over lacklustre Swansea and move sixth in the table.

With a makeshift defence and the hosts impressive recent record against us, there was nervous trepidation among the travelling faithful but those fears were quickly banished with three first half goals.

Paul Pogba enhanced his credentials further with a stunning volley while Zlatan's brace- his first of which was the 25,000th Premier League goal- saw the Reds race into a 3-0 lead by the half hour mark.

Bob Bradley's feeble side were thoroughly outplayed and never threatened a comeback despite Mike van der Hoorn's 70th minute headed consolation.

United controlled proceedings from the off- a dominance we would never relinquish- and could have gone ahead inside five minute through the excellent Wayne Rooney.
The rejuvenated skipper jinked past two static Swans defenders and curled a well-hit effort inches wide of goal.

That proved to be only a temporary reprieve for the hosts as United moved ahead on 15 minutes through a truly sumptuous effort from Pogba, his fourth of the season.

Rooney's flicked header was cleared away by van der Hoorn but only as far as the Frenchman who crashed home an unstoppable volley into the top corner from 25 yards. 

Six minutes later, United doubled their lead when, after Marouane Fellaini had gone close, Rooney found Ibrahimovic who fired home his first goal in 525 minutes.

Not content with the 25,000th Premier League goal, the big man had another target in his sights and found the net again ten minutes later.
This time, after lovely link-up play with Rooney in the Swans half, Zlatan bundled his way through and finished well for his 400th club career goal and put the result beyond any lingering doubt.

Fellaini had a half chance and Rooney nodded narrowly over while Gylfi Sigurdsson lashed wide in a rare opening at the other end after half time.
Four minutes later, the Swans grabbed a consolation when de Hoorn headed home the Icelandic's free-kick but that was as good as it got for Bradley's side. 

Juan Mata went close to a fourth, David de Gea saved well from substitute Modou Barrow and Rooney was unlucky to have a goal ruled out as the Reds went into the international break with a welcome and confidence-boosting win. 

Overal team performance: 8/10
United Faithful Man of the Match: Wayne Rooney.  Had a hand in all three goals and unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet himself. 


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