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Bright skies are back over Old Trafford

January 11, 2014 by Tony Bugby

MAN UNITED 2, SWANSEA CITY 0

The dark skies over Old Trafford lifted as Manchester United finally registered their first victory of 2014.

After three straight defeats, United finally got off the mark with a much-needed win against Swansea City.

Goals from Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck avoided a fourth successive loss which would have been their worst run since 1961.

After a lack-lustre opening half, United finally found form as they brushed aside the Welsh side who last Sunday won at Old Trafford in the FA Cup.

And you could see the confidence, so lacking in recent matches, oozing back as United registered only their fifth home league win from 11 attempts.

United manager David Moyes was delighted by his side’s performance saying: “I hope we will improve an awful lot more, but we have to start somewhere.

“We scored two goals and may be should have had more and we had control over most of the game.”

Moyes was fulsome in his praise of teenager Adnan Januzaj who was named man of the match.

United’s manager explained: “His natural talent and ability is up with the best and in time he will prove it.

“From day one he has been fantastic. He can play anywhere and is not a nervous boy.”

United made two changes from the side which lost in midweek at Sunderland in the first leg of their semi final in the Capital One Cup. Shinji Kagawa and Chris Smalling replaced Ryan Giggs and the injured Jonny Evans.

There was a positive start from United as Nemanja Vidic fired just over following a free kick by Januzaj.

Januzaj then curled a free kick, awarded for a foul on Danny Welbeck, over the defensive wall only to see it crash against the crossbar with keeper Gerhard Tremmel beaten.

Patrice Evra forced a full length diving save from Tremmel  and Darren Fletcher  shot over as United looked to make a breakthrough.

United ought to have taken the lead in the 36th minute when Valencia and Rafael linked down the right to set up Welbeck who shot just wide when he ought to have found the net.

Swansea’s best chance came when Jonjo Shelvey fired three yards wide from the right side of the penalty area.

The stalemate was broke 60 seconds after the restart when Valencia scored his fourth goal of the campaign.

Kagawa’s header brought a good save from Tremmel, but the keeper could only parry the ball out to Valencia who slotted home from inside the six-yard box.

United doubled their advantage just short of the hour when Welbeck deflected a Patrice Evra shot low to the left of Tremmel for his sixth goal in as many Premier League games. The move had begun when a throw from the keeper was intercepted.

It ought to have been 3-0 not long after when Smalling volleyed over from within the six-yard box with the goal at his mercy as he looked certain to convert a Kagawa cross from the left.

Kagawa, put clean through by Rafael, lobbed Tremmel only for Leon Britton to prevent a third goal with a timely goalline clearance.

Filed Under: Manchester United, Match Report, North West, Premier League Tagged With: Adnan Januzaj, Antonio Valencia, Danny Welbeck, David Moyes

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