Swansea 0 - 4 United
Swansea provided a stern test today just because their only intention was to draw the game. During the first half they were defending in numbers and I just couldn't see a way past them. BUT we managed to find a goal at a great time, just before half-time, when Pogba headed against the bar (great surprise there) and Bailly pounced on the rebound. That was Bailly's first goal for United.
What Swansea did today is probably what a lot of teams will do against us this season. They will defend in numbers and try to frustrate our players. It worked last season but we look a different side this year. Our problem will be getting the first goal because no matter how many world beaters you have in your team, it is bloody difficult to penetrate a 9-man defence. Once we get that first goal, then the opposition will try to attack and that will leave them exposed. That's when we will kill teams. During the second half, Swansea had a decent chance that could have hurt us but we were the only team that looked like scoring.
A bit disappointed with Rashford. During the first half he was the player who looked likely to create something but once again he stuttered in front of goal. He should have scored 3 goals this season already! Needs to improve on his finishing or otherwise he'll be another Danny Welbeck. The player he is playing ahead of, Anthony Martial, is a superior finisher. In fact he played like 30 minutes this season and scored 2 goals. Martial will start the next game, no doubt. He deserves it.
Matic was everywhere. What I noticed is that he always tries to provide the second passing option to the player who has the ball. It's simple yet effective. Bailly and Jones were rock solid. It's great to see Jones playing so well, hopefully he'll stay injury-free this season. Pogba scored a beautiful chipped goal but the difference was Mkhitaryan. I said that I expect big things from him this year and he is really delivering. He already has 4 assists this PL season, 3 more than the whole of last season! Probably my Man of the Match.
Lukaku had a quiet game but he scored 10 minutes before the end of the game and put our minds at ease. He also held the ball so well in the lead up to the Martial goal.
This game definitely wasn't as entertaining as the West Ham game last week but we still managed to play some good football. The game was always in our hands. We're defending well, like we did last season BUT we are also scoring goals. Exciting times ahead. Leicester City at Old Trafford next. Come on United.
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