Man United 2-0 Swansea: Win boosts Red Devils’ top four hopes

Manchester United ended their losing streak with a comfortable 2-0 Premier League win against Swansea City in talkSPORT’s UK exclusive live commentary game.

Having suffered three defeats in a row in all competitions, including an FA Cup exit at Old Trafford to Swansea less than a week earlier, United were desperate for three points and goals from Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck were welcome relief for underfire manager David Moyes, as they moved to within four points of the Champions League places.

But in a flat first half, Swansea were comfortable as United rarely threatened to break the deadlock.

The closest the Red Devils came to a goal in the first period was an Adnan Januzaj free-kick that rattled the crossbar after 10 minutes.

Swansea were dealt a blow soon after when Jose Canas was taken off injured after 17 minutes, forcing Michael Laudrup to replace the Spaniard with Chico Flores.  

Still, the Welsh club looked comfortable and demonstrated the good football they have become renowned for, working an opportunity for Jonjo Shelvey, who shot just wide of the target seven minutes before the break.

The Old Trafford faithful could have been forgiven for getting anxious, but to their credit the atmosphere didn’t betray any impatience and their reward followed shortly after half-time.

United came out flying for the second half and took the lead almost straight away to ease any nerves.

Valencia was provided with an easy finish on 46 minutes, after United pressure produced a scramble in the box, the ball falling to the Ecuadorian to score his first league goal at home since Boxing Day 2011.

Swansea responded with attacks of their own, but were almost caught out after 52 minutes when Shinji Kagawa shot just over the bar after a quick Red Devils break.

Undaunted, Shelvey worked space on the edge of the United box after 56 minutes, but sent his shot disappointingly high into the Scoreboard End.

Four minutes later Welbeck made Swansea pay, as he turned fox in the box after an hour to double United’s lead with a poacher’s finish, making it six goals in his last six Premier League games.

Shelvey was substituted on 62 minutes, replaced by Alvaro, and a minute later a speculative long range effort from Alejandro Pozuelo worried de Gea in the United goal, but just whistled past the Spaniard’s post.

A third for United would have sealed the victory, only for Chris Smalling to miss a sitter for the home side in the six yard box with the goal gaping on 65 minutes.

A beautiful ball from Kagawa found Smalling unmarked and the England international looked certain to make it 3-0, but somehow fired over.

Ben Davies put in a good cross on 69 minutes, but Jordi Amat wasted a good headed chance to claw Swansea back in to the match.

By now Laudrup’s men were pushing increasing numbers forward in search of a goal and leaving themselves vulnerable to the counter from their hosts.

Sure enough, a United break on 75 minutes saw Leon Britton forced to scramble back and keep the Swans alive with a goal-line clearance when Kagawa seemed set to wrap things up.

But neither side could find the net in the closing stages, as United eased the pressure on David Moyes with a much needed win.