Swansea 0-4 Manchester United (Bailly 45, Lukaku 80, Pogba 82, Martial 84)
We don’t have a very good record against Swansea, but last
year we went to Wales under serious pressure and Jose, or rather Pogba, Zlatan
and Rooney, pulled out a 3-1 away victory. Swansea don’t seem to be
sleepwalking to relegation this time like they did around then, with Paul
Clement an increasingly impressive figure. But United were obviously massive
favourites.
The game started at a snail’s pace. There weren’t many
highlights in the first half, so much so that much of the attention focused on
the filmiest of claims of a second yellow card for Pogba that would see him
take an early bath. Total nonsense, of course.
Our golden boy Rashford was getting plenty of stick from the
Jacks, which surprised the commentators who wondered whether it was an example
of Anglo-Welsh hostilities. Utd fans knew better – it was clearly a reference
to Rashford’s, erm, rather flamboyant tumble in the Swans penalty area at Old
Trafford last season. Rooney scored the subsequent dodgy spot-kick and the away
fans were fuming given they still were in relegation danger at this point. So
the kid probably deserved the choice words heading his way, it definitely won’t
be the last time he faces a crowd like that, hopefully it’ll be a learning
experience for him.
United went ahead just before the break from a corner which
Pogba, given a free header, powered towards goal but the bar and the keeper
coincided to keep it just out. The United fans went up in celebration and for a
second everyone played on, but it didn’t matter as Eric Bailly reacted first
and poked the ball over the line to bring a second round of cheers from the
travelling hordes, and to take away the need for a look at goal-line
technology.
After we went 1-0 up, the feeling was that the Swans would
come out, but they didn’t, and this meant we couldn’t use Valencia and Blind to
overlap as much because our wingers had to stay wide to try and open up the
game.
For a large percentage of the second half, the game was
pretty equal and a Swansea goal seemed just as likely as one from us. Their defensive
5-3-2 formation was hampering our attempts to break the backline, while
simultaneously making it difficult for Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham and Jordan
Ayew to test our defence and hold the ball up, given their limited help. The
match was becoming scrappy, with Abraham heading over from the penalty spot
when unmarked a warning shot for our defence. I was thinking we should bring on
Herrera to tighten the midfield up.
On 67 minutes, Clement blinked and brought on two wingers –
Narsingh and Routledge – for Bartley and Roque Mesa and switched to a 4-4-2. It
was just what Mourinho, the ultimate reactive manager, was waiting for.
8 minutes later, Martial and Fellaini were sent on for
Rashford (who had drifted out of proceedings) and Mata. 9 minutes after those
changes, United had moved from a tentative 1-0 away win to a comprehensive 4-0
thumping. Swansea didn’t deserve the final score line and had to go for the
equaliser and leave the door open for the counter, but the way United shifted
through the gears was thoroughly impressive, another sign that things could be
different this season, as early as it is.
Lukaku had barely had a kick all game but finished
emphatically when the chance came after Martial ran at the defenders before
Mkhitaryan took over to play in the £75m man. Well, that is what we bought him
for. Somehow I think there won’t be quite as many 1-1 home draws this season
with him around. Anyway, 2-0, and in all probability, game over. Right, let’s relax and keep it tight and go
home with a nice win an-
Pogba!!! The third goal came after a lighting counter and
the second assist for our midfield Armenian after superb dribbling, but it was
all about the two brilliant parts of Pogba’s game; the athleticism to cover so
much ground so quickly, and the world class technique rarely seen in such a
tall, strong player that allowed him to delicately chip home and then celebrate
with the away end. Fantastic move. If Pogba can get close to 15 goals in all
competitions this season, and he certainly has the ability to, United’s season
could be a lot sweeter this time around.
There was barely time to breathe before United got their 4th
again. (Remember how rare United scoring four has been over the last three
seasons! Yet we’ve made it look so easy!) Another brilliant Pogba-led counter
and a typical Martial finish, cutting inside before slotting it in the far
corner. The subs by Mourinho had tipped the balance. Sure, Swansea rather fell
apart but Mkhitaryan, Martial, and particularly Pogba had been irresistible on
the counter attack. Bringing on Fellaini to allow Pogba to roam further forward
reminded me of when Roberto Mancini used to bring on De Jong as a sub for City
as an attacking sub; to push Yaya Toure up the field.
The Rampant Reds had
scored 4 goals in their opening two league games of a season for the first time
in 110 years. The 1907-08 season, in case you were wondering. Early doors, I
know, but another great day.
United (4-2-3-1) De
Gea 6; Valencia 6, Bailly 7, Jones 8, Blind 7; Matic 7.5, Pogba 8; Mata 7
(Fellaini 75, 6), Mkhitaryan 7.5 (Herrera 85), Rashford 6.5 (Martial 75, 7.5);
Lukaku 6
