MAN UNITED 2, SWANSEA CITY 1
Manchester United halted their worst run for 26 years as they returned to winning ways against Swansea City at Old Trafford.
After eight games without a victory in all competitions, this was certainly a much-needed success as the Reds climbed to fifth place in the Barclays Premier League.
Second-half goals from Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney – his 238th to move ahead of Denis Law into second place in the Reds’ all-time chart – earned three valuable points and a first win in six league games.
United were far from their best, however, as the Swans almost equalised in the fifth minute of stoppage time when goalkeeper Lukasz Fabrianski came forward for a corner and planted a header inches wide.
It would have snatched a point as Swansea, 2-1 winners against United in each of their last three games went down fighting.
Phil Jones for Matteo Darmian was the one change from the side that kicked off against Chelsea on Monday.
United, playing a 3-5-1-1 formation, made a bright start and inside 30 seconds Ander Herrera had a goalbound shot blocked.
Sadly it was only the briefest of flickers as the game soon transcended into a dour duel that lacked quality as both sides cancelled out one another.
Rooney flashed an angled shot into the side netting after 21 minutes, but goal attempts were at a premium.
Swansea had their first chance of the game just short of the half hour when Wayne Routledge forced a stretching save from David De Gea.
There was also a shout for a penalty from the Swans after the ball struck the hand of Morgan Schneiderlin, but it looked a case of ball to hand as opposed to the other way.
Juan Mata had a couple of shots at goal, the second of which forced a diving save from Fabianski.
Then in first half stoppage time, United ought to have made the breakthrough when Rooney’s header from Ashley Young’s cross forced a decent diving save from Fabianski.
United made a change at the break as Jones was replaced by Darmian.
Rooney had a goalbound shot blocked by Ashley Williams before the breakthrough came in the 47th minute when Martial found the net with a powerful downward header into the roof of the net following Young’s cross from the right. It was the eighth goal of the season from the 20-year-old striker.
Swansea came within inches of equalising when Andre Ayew headed against the upright from a Gylfi Sigurdsson cross.
And there was controversy when Angel Rangel went sprawling in the box following up from a challenge by Darmian. Referee Jon Moss booked the Swansea player for diving, but replays suggested contact.
Swans were becoming more of a threat and they drew level with 20 minutes left when Sigurdsson’s header looped over De Gea from a cross by substitute Modou Barrow.
United regained the lead after 77 minutes when Rooney scored the game’s decisive goal.
Martial broke down the left and fired in a low cross that Rooney converted with a cheeky back heel from inside the six-yard box which flew into the far top corner.
It was Rooney’s eighth of the season but, more significantly, his188th Premier League goal as he moved ahead of Andy Cole into second place in the all-time list of scorers.
Swansea, who threw on Bafetimbi Gomis and Jefferson Montero in the dying minutes, were twice unlucky not to draw level in stoppage time.
First Williams forced a fine diving save from De Gea after a drive from the edge of the penalty area.
Then right at the death goalkeeper Fabianski sprinted upfield and met a Sigurdsson corner with the confidence of a centre forward, but his header flew agonisingly wide.
Fabianski threw himself to the ground head in hands in disbelief as he knew how close he had come to snatching a point.