United work hard to overcome a Swansea side intent on spoiling Ferguson's party
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| Old Trafford was awash with colour for Ferguson's last home game. Photo: |
On a day where it seemed the entire world had it's eyes focused on Old Trafford, Swansea had to try and get something from a game which saw them adopt the role of the "Baddie" for the second time in a week. Normally appreciated by football purists, Swansea saw any passing affection go out the window as Ferguson approached his final league game at Old Trafford, and the carousel of ex-Man Utd/Fergie players reeled out by Sky served to undermine the regard in which the legendary Scot is held.
On to the game. Laudrup made a couple of changes - some enforced, some not. Taylor came in for Davies at left-back, for what would be his first start since injuring his ankle, while a fit-again Michu returned up top at the expense of Itay Shechter (much to the relief of Swans fans, despite his goal against Wigan). Angel Rangel was once again suffering from a calf complaint, so Dwight Tiendalli took his place at right-back, and rounding up the changes Tremmel replaced Vorm in goal (due to the latter suffering a clash of heads with Ben Davies against Wigan) while Chico returned in central defence at the expense of Garry Monk.
The game started in exactly the manner I'd hoped. The Swans got the ball and started to knock it around, and for a few minutes Manchester United didn't know what to do. For a few minutes. The stadium itself was awash with colour after the hosts had given out flags stating "Champions" to everyone in the stadium, and in a nice gesture they also gave the away fans their own (white) flags stating "League Cup Champions". Quite what they'd have put on there if we hadn't won anything I don't know... "Best team in Wales"? Suggestions on a postcard.
Within five minutes, however, United showed why they are champions. A neat move saw Van Persie feed Chicharito, who drifted into the area on the left hand side and drove a fierce shot at goal, but his effort cannoned off the crossbar and away. Man Utd had the bit between their teeth now, and some absolutely mesmeric one-touch football almost saw them find a way through but the Swans managed to clear their lines.
In truth, I felt Swansea controlled the opening fifteen minutes (aside from the aforementioned incidents) and Nathan Dyer almost capitalised on some good work from De Guzman but he couldn't quite get past Vidic, before down the other end Hernandez and Evra threatened, the latter drawing a save from the ever-solid Gerhard Tremmel. The game was developing into a real end-to-end affair - Dyer and Chicharito again threatened, and Scholes scuffed a shot when well placed, and at this point it was anyone's guess as to who would score first. Ashley Williams got a faceful of Vidic's forehead challenging for a corner, but sadly for the skipper he didn't need to wear some kind of Terry Butcher-esque bandage.
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| Chicharito opens the scoring |
The first goal of the game came in the 39th minute. A 50/50 challenge went (unsurprisingly) in favour of Man Utd on the right wing, when Neil Taylor and Danny Welbeck both went flying in. In truth, both players were guilty of perhaps being slightly over-zealous, but to me it definitely looked like Welbeck's tackle was worse. What happened next though means the Swans can have no complaints, as this goal should have been cleared. The ball in to the box seemed to be at a height which "first man" Pablo Hernandez could clear easily. The Spaniard jumped before inexplicably ducking at the last minute. This reminded me of Tony Bird, who I saw do something similar against (I think!) Derby County in the FA Cup back in the day. He'd sprinted 60 yards to get on the end of a perfect cross but pulled his head back at the last minute, and the ball went out on the far side for a goal kick. Back to 2013, and Hernandez's decision to leave the ball left Ashley Williams with no chance, and the ball dropped suddenly at his feet. His skewed clearance fell straight to Chicharito, who finished past Tremmel with aplomb.
RVP had two more chances before half time, but Tremmel was equal to the first one and the second flew over the bar when perhaps the pass was the better option, and so it was that the teams went in at half time with the score 1-0 to the hosts. After conceding late in the first half, it was vitally important for the deficit to be kept to a single goal at the break, as the Swans knew one goal meant they would be right back in the tie.
The second half started in much the same manner as the first. The Swans were pressing high and hard, and Man Utd were struggling to play out from the back. Good Swansea pressure saw a succession of corners, and they were back on level terms soon after. The second corner was cleared out out to the Swansea right, but Nathan Dyer rapidly retrieved the ball before floating a lovely cross in to the box which Michu met with an impudent flick of his left boot. Replays showed he missed Phil Jones' head by inches (although this was due to Jones' deciding to attempt a diving header in the general direction of Michu's legs), but it was a top class finish and De Gea had no chance from only a few yards out.
The Swans had wind in their sails now and the fans were also in good voice, with some particularly excellent chants being belted out. "You're getting sacked in the morning" was directed towards Fergie, and on the pitch it was an equally exuberant affair, with Anderson going close (after he'd come on for Scholes, who on being substituted in his final game for Utd sprinted off the field faster than he'd moved all night - very Scholes) at one end before Pablo jigged his way past a couple of tackles and drew an excellent save from De Gea at his near post.
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| Michu flicks the ball home. Note the proximity to his foot of Phil Jones' head... |
As time wore on though, United pressure did start to build, and you have to wonder if the Swans didn't invite it on themselves. Firstly, in the 73rd minute Michu was replaced by Angel Rangel. Now, I love Rangel as much as anyone but without a focal point to relieve pressure you're asking for trouble - especially against a team like United. That being said, the Swans were still doing alright and Routledge in particular seemed on a one-man pressing mission. Next though Laudrup replaced Pablo Hernandez with Kemy Augustien with the Swans defending a corner. Whether there's anything in the cliché that making a change while defending a corner is defensive suicide I don't know, but the very next corner did see Utd score so it seems fair to bring it up. The ball evaded everyone and fell to Rio Ferdinand at the back post, and he lashed it home past Tremmel who had no chance.
The goal game in the 87th minute of a game where the Swans gave Man Utd a run for their money, and aside from two defensive failings put in a very fine display. The last three games have definitely seen the Swans produce an upturn in form which was needed going in to the close season, as much to keep morale high as anything else. One thing I'd mention is I thought De Guzman was quite poor again yesterday. If Ki is injured then fair enough, but it seems that JDG is ahead of the Korean in the pecking order at the moment and I'm not convinced. We looked at the "heatmaps" of player positions yesterday and while the other central midfielders (Leon, Carrick and Scholes) were all bang in the middle of the park, De Guzman was up by Michu, and with the Swans relying heavily on team shape I think this puts massive pressure on Leon Britton. Ki is a lot more disciplined, and having two defensive midfielders maintain a solid shape allows the rest of the team to rotate without danger of exposing the back four to unnecessary pressure.
Fulham at home next, and the chance to end the season with a bang. We've traditionally done alright against the men from West London, and it may be that Laudrup allows a few fresh faces to get some game time. I for one would have no objection to Rory Donnelly getting 20 minutes - he's our player and at this point in the season I'd rather see him get some experience than Shechter. One thing's for sure though. If we play like we did yesterday I think we'll come away with the three points.