Five things we learnt from Manchester United's comfortable 2-0 home win over Swansea

Have United finally found Giggs’s successor?

Ever since Giggs moved into a deeper central midfield role, there has been a glaring gap on the left flank that has, over the past few years, had no takers. On the evidence of Januzaj’s brilliant second half performance against Swansea, that might just be about to change. The Belgian teenager started as a No.10 but moved to the left flank towards the end of the first half and by the end of the game, put in an exhibition of wing play that hasn’t been seen at Old Trafford for some time now. Januzaj was gliding across the grass, had defenders slipping left, right and center and displayed some exquisite touches in the second half. His display was full of confidence and his combination with Evra was the major source of United’s attacks. His awareness of what is around him is simply sublime for someone who is young and the Belgian has a great future ahead of him.

Moyes gets the response he was hoping for

If there was one thing that was expected from United in the game against Swansea, on the back of three successive defeats in all competitions, was a response. That was certainly evident right from kickoff as United’s intensity rattled Swansea early on. And although that faded as the half went on, they certainly created plenty of chances and should have gone into the break ahead. They started the second half in much the same vein, and by the end of the game, it was their profligacy in front of goal that limited the score line to just two-nil.

Swansea still have to sort out their League form

Swansea’s FA Cup victory at Old Trafford less than a week ago sparked scenes of jubilation, but they were brought back down to earth with this defeat, which leaves them just three points ahead of their Welsh rivals Cardiff, who currently occupy the final relegation spot. Defeat at the Theatre of Dreams extended their win less run in the League to seven and the Swans have won just five of their last 20 games in the League. Their European adventure has certainly left a mark on their League form, which has been far from impressive over the past month or so. Laudrup has find a way to stop the rot and find it fast.

United win the midfield battle as Carrick and Fletcher flourish

Before Fletcher was diagnosed with the disease that kept him out of the first team for the past couple of years, his partnership with Carrick was one of the cornerstones of the United setup. Playing against a side who keep the ball better than anybody in the Premier League, the duo bossed the game in the second half and were showed the Old Trafford faithful glimpses of the good old days, in which United actually had a proper central midfield. Both of them were tidy with the ball and looked equally capable of picking the forward pass and tracking runners at the back. For the first time this season, United were able to wrestle control of central midfield and not be overrun, which certainly bodes well for the foreseeable future.

Crisis averted once more?

After winning six games on the bounce after back-to-back home losses, it looked as though United had averted a crisis in December. But three straight losses in all competitions meant that United were back in crisis yet again. Defeat to Swansea at home for the second time in the space of a week, would have been a disaster for Moyes. But, thankfully for him, Welbeck scored for the third Premier League game on the trot and made it six in his last six League games to seal the deal after Valencia got the opener. It was Moyes’s first win of 2014 and for now, at least, the crisis has been averted.