MAN UNITED 2, SWANSEA CITY 0
It was all rather routine as Manchester United beat Swansea City at Old Trafford to reclaim second spot in the Premier League that they lost hours earlier.
Goals from Romelu Lukaku – his 100th in the Premier League – and Alexis Sanchez sealed the points in the opening 20 minutes.
What threatened to become a landslide win failed to materialise as the Swans showed their spirit since Carlos Carvalhal became manager which had seen them lose only once in eight away games since he took charge.
Indeed Swans, battling relegation, threatened a second-half fightback and, but for two great saves from David De Gea, it might have been a different story had one or both of them gone in.
Manager Jose Mourinho, who has not lost in 10 games against Swans, put the second-half fadeout down to players being tired due to the travel and playing international matches around the globe.
He said: “The first half was perfect.May be one more goal and it would have been game over.
“It was one of the best halves we have played here. They didn’t have one shot. There were lots of movement and passing and we had many dangerous positions and should have scored more.”
Mourinho added the second half was different. He credited Swans’ manager Carvalhal for being brave to make two changes at half time and also fatigue as six or seven players were on international duty in midweek.
He added the goal for the remainder of the season is to stay in second place.
Mourinho continued: “It was a very important three points. We have nine, 10, 11 more points more than last season, scored more goals and conceded less.
“We were sixth last year so it is not as bad as made out.”
Paul Pogba returned to the Reds’ starting line as he found himself back in favour after three games on the sidelines.
There was plenty of attacking riches on show – Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard.
But there were no places for Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford who had to content with places on the bench.
And the attacking riches helped set up the breakthrough goal in the fifth minute when Mata, Lingard and Sanchez set up Lukaku who rifled a shot into the roof of the net with the help of a deflection off Alfie Mawson.
It was Lukaku’s 100th Premier League as he became the first Belgium to reach that landmark. And it was his 26th of his debut season for the Reds.
Lukaku burst clean through on goal only for keeper Lukasz Fabianski to make a splendid save low to his right to ensure it remained 1-0.
The lively Lingard had two chances to extend the lead, forcing a save from Fabianski before firing wide.
It was no surprise when United made it 2-0 after 20 minutes when Lingard provided the assist with a fine through ball to release Sanchez who powered a shot low past Fabianski from 18 yards, only his second goal following his January move from Arsenal.
United were rampant as Lukaku this time set up Lingard who blazed over.
Swansea, who had won twice and drawn once in their last five visits to Old Trafford, made a double switch at the break bringing on striker Tammy Abraham and attacking midfielder Tom Carroll.
And they were forced into a third and final change within 10 minutes of the restart when Sam Clucas was injured and he was replaced by Wayne Routledge.
United came close to a third goal when a header from Sanchez looped on to the roof of the net. And Mata then had a chance as he volleyed over from inside the six-yard box from a cross by Pogba.
It took Swansea almost an hour before they created their first goal attempt of the game, and then two came along within the space of 60 seconds.
Both fell to Abraham who each time was thwarted by brilliant saves from David De Gea.
United made a double change with 15 minutes left as Sanchez and Lingard were replaced by Rashford and Ander Herrera.
Lukaku had a glorious chance to make it 3-0 after a cross from Pogba found him six yards from goal, but Fabianski made a fine save to smother his shot.