Match Report: Swansea 2-1 Manchester United

Wayne Rooney, what's the point?

Manchester United opened the brighter of the two teams, but Wayne Rooney fluffed his lines when given a one-on-one chance early in the match, giving Ashley Williams time to tackle him. When Ander Herrera put him in, in a similar position, he tried a deft chip which ended up straight in the 'keeper's clutches.

Swansea grew into the match, though, and Bafetimbi Gomis demonstrated Daley Blind's limitations when he turned him easily, and send a shot against the outside of the far post. Seconds before, Gylfi Sigurdsson shot just wide of goal when Gomis controlled a pass from a set piece.

Sergio Romero again worried his side with a couple of poor clearances, demanding that Louis van Gaal must act in the transfer window to replace him with a worthier senior goalkeeper for the coming season, or at least mend his relationship with Victor Valdes. The Spaniard's proposed move to Besiktas is, at the moment, off.

In the second half, Juan Mata put United ahead just after the restart. Luke Shaw sent in a cross from the left wing, aimed toward Rooney at the near post. Rooney either missed or got the slightest of touches on the ball, and it carried along to the back post, where Mata finished high into the roof of the net. Shortly after, Shaw lunged in studs up - apparently by accident - on Andre Ayew on the wing, and was fortunate not even receive a booking.

Mata almost made it to just before the hour when Ander Herrera slipped him in behind the defend with a clever through ball, but Lukasz Fabianksi got down to his right smartly. Rooney then failed to play a simple pass, giving away possession, and Swansea attacked down the other end swiftly down the right wing, and Ayew bounced in a header past Sergio Romero for the equaliser.

Ayew was instrumental for Swansea's second. Using the outside of his left foot from the right wing, he sliced in a perfect ball for Gomis's run, and his shot squeezed in at the near post after a poor attempt at a stop from Romero. Incredibly, Rooney was allowed to remain on the pitch, and Mata was hooked instead.

Soon after, Marouane Fellaini was introduced as United decided to chase the game using their trusted Plan B. With three minutes of normal time left, Rooney rolled his defender, putting himself one-on-one with Fabianksi, and again waited for Williams to tackle him, summing up Rooney's game and current form. He offers less than nothing for United. He is not even a neutral pleasance, he is a plague upon the side.