Starting 2014 with 3 straight home defeats, it certainly hasn't been a happy new year for David Moyes and Manchester United so far this season. The FA cup win for Swansea last weeke
nd was their first at Old Trafford for 83 years. Could they repeat this result in the premier league?
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Two changes were made by David Moyes with Carrick returning to the midfield in place of Cleverly and Chris Smalling being pushed into the middle of the defense alongside Vidic. The amount of injuries picked the Swansea team for itself with Tremmel continuing in goal for the injured Vorm and Canas replacing De Guzman. Davies, Williams and Rangel however all returned back in defense for Swansea. Manchester United haven't lost at home for 3 consecutive games for over 50 years, so there was no doubt pressure was on United to gain a result and after the tough press over the past week towards the players, everyone expected a response.
The game started as an open affair with half chances for both teams in the early moments. Swansea showed excellent promise in only the fourth minute when Shelvey picked out a good run from Rangel, but a poor first touch allowed the ball to run away and what could have been a great chance on goal had gone. Soon after, Shelvey found himself in a promising position outside the box, but could only shoot straight at De Gea. Swansea were certainly in no mood to make life easy for United. Only a couple of minutes later United had chances of their own. Vidic could only snap at a shot which fell nicely 6 yards out over the bar and Januzaj who was very unlucky to hit the bar off a superb free kick.

mpressive for Swansea in the first half. Always looked comfortable on the ball, willing to run at the United players and seemed to be everywhere on the pitch. A real impressive talent and a player football fans should watch out for in the remainder of the season.
It seemed that the first half was starting to go the same way other games have gone at Old Trafford this season with the game drifting by with very few chances and with other teams winning the game late on against United, there needed to be more of an urgency by United to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Carrick on the half hour mark took a quick free kick to provide Evra with an excellent opportunity on the left to pick out someone with a low cross, but could only find the hands of the Swansea goalkeeper. But finally some urgency shown by United and only 5 minutes later came United's best chance of the half. Good work by Valencia picked out the overlapping Rafael, squaring the ball to Welbeck who could only drag his shot wide of the post from 12 yards out. Should have been 1-0 and as an England fan I couldn't help think that when it comes to the world cup, our England strikers can't be missing opportunities like those.
An uninspiring first half came to an end and with only 34% possession it seemed Manchester United were no closer to breaking the rut at home. Januzaj frittered in and out of the game showing some good moments and Welbeck of course had a golden opportunity. Swansea played well having good possession, but were almost guilty of doing too many passes in the final third. Moyes had plenty to ponder at half time. Flecther and Carrick were almost instinctively sitting too deep, probably due to the recent poor performance; one of them needed to push forward in the second half to create a more positive United. This need to be more positive could also be applied to Swansea who could perhaps be braver in the second half and push more players into the box.
Most of Swansea's goals have been scored after half time this season so a definite need for United to up the anti second half and they couldn't have started better. Only one minute in and Januzaj provides a fantastic cross for Kagawa on the back post, who heads across goal and Tremmel could only parry the ball to Valencia who had an easy tap-in. 1-0 and you could feel the relief pour out at Old Trafford.
The goal suddenly gave Manchester United a surge of confidence and looked more relaxed after seeming edgy and over-careful in the first half. United had more rhythm and momentum to their play. The suttle change of pushing Januzaj out wide and moving Kagawa into the number 10 role which he was more accustomed to when at Dortmund proved to be a genius move and credit has to be given to Moyes. Januzaj continued to threaten out wide on 51 minutes when he threaded a lovely pass to Evra, where the low cross agonisingly fell behind both Welbeck and Kagawa. United were suddenly seeing more of the ball than they saw throughout the whole first half and Evra in particular looked very dangerous with his overlapping runs on the left.

Soon after Smalling was guilty of missing a sitter at the back post. Swansea cleared their lines off a corner, only for a pass back in left Kagawa in acres of space on the edge of the box and found Smalling on the back post, who somehow found a way to volley over the bar from a couple of yards out. Shocking miss and United would be guilty of doing the same after 76 mins when a counter attack by United from a Swansea corner allowed Kagawa through on goal, but his attempt was eventually cleared off the line after trying to be too delicate with his finish.

With a tight first half, the rise in tempo by United in the second half swung the game their way and based on the second half performance, they deserved the victory. Swansea's next challenge isn't any easier hosting spurs in their next premier league game, but with the bottom being so tight, a couple of consecutive wins which I believe Swansea can get with their squad will steer them away from trouble.

and upwards for Manchester United? Only time will tell and will make some interesting viewing in the coming weeks of the premier league.
No comments:
Post a Comment