Swansea 0-4 Manchester United

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 4^th 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