Monday 31 August 2015 10:38, UK
We pick out the key talking points from Swansea's 2-1 win over Manchester United at the Liberty Stadium.
Andre Ayew and Bafetimbi Gomis were on target for the hosts, who bounced back from Juan Mata's opener to end United's unbeaten start to the season.
It was Swansea's third Premier League win in a row over Louis van Gaal's side...
How have United progressed in Van Gaal's 50 games?
"The first match I played was against Swansea. We lost and now I have to play them in my 50th match. I hope we can show our fans that we have improved." Swansea did the double over Manchester United last season and Louis van Gaal was determined to get his revenge ahead of kick-off.
However, once again, Garry Monk's side emerged 2-1 winners. With Sunday's contest being a landmark match for Van Gaal, questions over United's development in that time were inevitable. The recurring answer from the Liberty Stadium appeared to be 'United have improved… but there's a long way to go'.
Swansea defender Ashley Williams said his side's latest win over United was far tougher than their successes in 2014/15. "They've improved a lot from last season," he said. "It was a difficult game and they caused us problems."
Gary Neville agreed – but says a lack of "cutting edge" is proving costly for a United side which revels in controlling possession.
"They have improved – they're a better team than they were this time last season, there's no doubt about that," he said.
"But they play football at 1-0 and 0-0 like they're winning 4-0. They play really well, are dominating the game, have 65 per cent possession, have more shots but you have to score goals to capitalise on the football you're playing. It's OK if you win 1-0, you look like a really good team. But if a team get a goal back and you lose 2-1, that's a problem."
United fail to make fast start count
After starting impressively before fading against Newcastle last weekend, Manchester United were once again culpable of failing to capitalise on their impressive play in the opening stages against Swansea.
"United were by far the better team for precisely 23, 24 minutes," Neville said at half-time. "They should have been 1-0 up. Really good passing, really confident. Swansea looked like they had nowhere to go. But the game swung and turned on its head from the moment Swansea got their first chance on 24 minutes."
It was a view shared by Jamie Carragher, who reckoned the speed of United's play dropped off as they lost control of proceedings in the first period.
"In the first 15-20 minutes United were knocking the ball around really well. But it's similar to Newcastle last week, when they started well for 15-20 minutes then it just seems to peter out, goes slower," he said."
"Wayne Rooney is again not involved, he's had the fewest number of touches of any United player so far [just 22 at half-time]. You feel for him, though – they're not playing forward enough quickly, there's too much sideways passing."
Swansea strikers show class
When Wilfried Bony left Swansea for Manchester City in January many questioned how Swansea would recover from losing their top scorer. They needn't have been concerned.
Bafetimbi Gomis has revelled in the opportunity to step out of the Ivorian's shadow, scoring in every Premier League game so far this season after netting six in the final 10 games of 2014/15.
Summer arrival Andre Ayew – who, like Gomis was signed on a free transfer – has equally impressed, scoring on the opening day against Chelsea, netting against Newcastle on his home debut and heading home the equaliser on Sunday.
Swansea have also shown something lacking in United's game at times this term – direct, effective link-up play between their forwards. There were few better passes this weekend than Ayew's outside-of-the-boot through ball for Gomis' winner.
"The pass for me was more important [than my goal] because that put us ahead," Ayew told Sky Sports after the game. "I knew that if we got ahead we had the players to hold this victory, and we did really well."
Monk's reputation grows again
Swansea's 2-1 win over Manchester United on the opening day of last season was Van Gaal's first in charge of United. It was also Garry Monk's first as permanent Swansea boss. The positive development his team have made in that time should not be overlooked.
An eighth-place finish last season marked their continued improvement, while their victory over United on Sunday highlighted how difficult a visit to the Liberty Stadium has become.
For Carragher, Monk's best work has been in transforming Swansea from simply an attractive, ball-playing team to one which is clinical and aggressive in both boxes.
"They're a real force, this is a difficult place to go," he said. "Swansea were normally a lot better between the boxes than their opponents, better at keeping the ball. But we saw today with Ashley Williams' defending and the way Swansea took their chances – two chances, two goals – how they've changed.
"Monk has moved them on from being a nice football team, nice to watch, maybe not aggressive enough in both boxes. Now they're a lot stronger defensively and a lot more clinical in attack."
Garry Monk has moved Swansea on from being a nice football team who were maybe not aggressive enough in both boxes. Now they're a lot stronger defensively and a lot more clinical in attack.
A tactical change 10 minutes into the second half – switching to a diamond in midfield – also paid dividends, and Neville credited Monk for the alteration which led to two quick-fire goals.
"It had an influence on the game – although I didn't think it would be a positive one when it first started," said Neville.
"The fact he explained it to his players at half-time is smart. He deserves big credit for that. He's obviously prepared them for a change in the game.
"The problem with the diamond sometimes is the two strikers play too narrow and it becomes quite easy for the opposition team to get out. But they played really well in those split positions. The goals came from that. Well done to him. They deserved to win today."
