Manchester United 2-1 Swansea City: 5 talking points

Swans’ keeper Lukasz Fabianski heads a corner just wide of David de Gea’s post in the 95th minute. The final whistle that followed breathed a massive sigh of relief across Old Trafford, as Manchester United edged out relegation-battling Swansea City 2-1 in a tense and nervy encounter to give them their first victory in 9 games in all competitions.Ashley Young’s wonderful delivery from the right wing was thundered into the back of the net by the head of Anthony Martial before Gylfi Sigurdsson flicked a header from a Mo Barrow cross to cancel out United’s advantage.Wayne Rooney – who scored just 6 times in the league in 2015 – opened his account this calendar year seven minutes later when he audaciously flicked an Anthony Martial ball to restore the Red Devils’ lead.Ashley Williams had an effort saved by De Gea in injury time, following which goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski almost spoiled the Old Trafford celebrations right at the death when he sent a header from a corner flying just past the wrong side of the post. We analyse the 5 focal points which had a decisive effect on the happenings at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

#1 Swansea lose faith in Gomis, play two wide strikers

Caretaker boss Alan Curtis missed a trick as he left Gomis on the bench for the clash

Bafetimbi Gomis’ miserable run of form has cost his place in the first team despite his history against the Red Devils – he’s scored the 2 winners in the last 2 meetings – and Alan Curtis decided to start with 2 natural wingers in Andre Ayew and Wayne Routledge.

However, the lack of a striker through the middle of the attack was evident throughout the game – they rarely found that finishing touch which is essential to beat the goalkeeper despite creating a host of opportunities in the second half

Apart from an Ayew header that struck the woodwork and Gylfi Sigurdsson’s equaliser, the Swans never looked like they were going to cause David de Gea too many issues. Ayew’s header might have easily found the back of the net had it been a striker at the end of that particular cross (Bafetimbi Gomis, for example), and Alan Curtis would currently be ruing his decision to start without a recognised centre-forward.

#2 Neil Taylor vs Ashley Young: One half per person

It was a story of two halves for both Young and Taylor

A first-half to remember at an iconic venue for Indian-origin Welsh full-back Neil Taylor. He did a brilliant job of keeping in touch with makeshift right-back Ashley Young, not allowing him to find any necessary space to work the ball towards the bye-line.

He showed great alertness on the field to deny Juan Mata following a quickly taken free-kick and also made a crucial interception to stop Wayne Rooney from going clear on goal.

However, the second half was all about Ashley Young. He was a different player from the first half, causing Taylor himself a plethora of problems with his pacey approaches towards the bye-line and his delicious crosses towards Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial lurking around inside the box. His performance reaped the just reward – an assist for Anthony Martial’s unstoppable header past Lukasz Fabianski.

#3 Man United better off playing direct football rather than being over-elaborate

Van Gaal’s apparent tactical tweak at halftime saw United play with a direct approach

The first half read the same old Man United story that has defined their performances over the past month or so – dominant in possession, but ultimately failing to find the killer pass in the final third to open up opposition defences. The over-complicated build-up play may be pleasing to watch but makes no footballing sense if the move doesn’t culminate in a goal or a at least a shot on target.

They altered their style in the second half – playing a more direct brand of football; Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger playing the ball out to the wide men – Ashley Young in particular – who would then deliver cross after cross to trouble the Swansea defence. It instantly paid dividends with Martial’s opener in the 47th minute.

United were brutal since, the likes of Young and Martial racing down the flanks and making regular inroads into the Swans’ back four. This direct approach was fruitful in the end, as Man United edged out the Welsh club to open 2016 with 3 priceless points.

#4 United need to sort out their defence

United saw as much as four different defensive combinations last night

It was Young-Smalling-Jones-Blind in the first half. Then it became Young-Smalling-Blind-Darmian in the first period of the second half. At the full-time whistle, the back-four read McNair-Smalling-Blind-Darmian. To win games convincingly, one needs a stable back four and more importantly, a solid centre-back partnership.

Both were missing for Louis van Gaal’s side this game, and it showed in the second half. The lack of co-ordination between Smalling and Blind gifted Ayew a free header, only for it to thankfully rebound off the right post. They also failed to mark Gylfi Sigurdsson as he managed to flick a header to level matters for Swansea in the 70th minute.

Defensive partnerships are built over a period of weeks, not a few minutes – and Louis van Gaal must be wary of the shortcomings of tweaking his defensive personnel in future games.

#5 Anthony Martial should play in the number 9 role

Calls to play Martial up top have been growing by the day

Anthony Martial’s terrific header to open the scoring for the Red Devils once again verifies appeals from a handful of fans to start him in the number 9 role, with Wayne Rooney dropping behind.

Yes, Rooney’s back-flick winner was amazing, but those rarely come off as perfectly as it did for the 30-year old on Saturday. His overall performance was relatively average, failing to find the target from a good position in the first half, and getting no power on any of the headers he won inside the penalty area, making life easy for Lukasz Fabianski.

On the other hand, Martial’s fleet-footedness and pace on the ball gave Federico Fernandez a migraine in the second half, making it very obvious that the £36m recruit is best exploited in the lone striker’s role.