Swansea 0 Manchester United 4: Watch highlights as Eric Bailly’s first league goal and late strikes from Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial secure sweet away win
Jose Mourinho's side was edging toward a narrow win before a vicious late surge sunk flimsy Welsh side
ERIC BAILLY scored only the second goal of his career – and first for United – as Jose Mourinho’s side battled their way to another victory.
Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial then scored in the final 10 minutes as the Swans fell apart with embarrassing ease.
United were anything but convincing but in a disappointing game but they went on the rampage at the end with three goals in the space of four minutes.
Unchanged from the 4-0 win over West Ham, United were lucky not to concede after just three minutes when Jordan Ayew sent an effort against the bar a rare mistake from Eric Bailly.
At the other end, United also tested the woodwork courtesy of Phil Jones’ header from Juan Mata’s free-kick.
Paul Pogba was lucky to stay on the pitch after he was booked for a foul on Tom Carroll before then delivering another rough challenge on Martin Olsson. He was given some stern words from ref Jon Moss.
Marcus Rashford found himself clean through but toe-poked the ball straight at Lukasz Fabianski and Mourinho’s team were stuck in third gear – but they opened the scoring in the 45 minute.
Daley Blind’s corner was met by a powerful header from Pogba, Lukasz Fabianski did well to make contact with the effort and the ball smacked against the underside of the bar.
Yet Bailly was first to react and stuck his leg out to give United the edge. They were not any better in the second period but they did not need to be.
Swansea did not create enough although Tammy Abraham headed over and the hosts failed to turn in a decent corner from Tom Carroll.
Lukaku struck after Anthony Martial and Mkhitaryan combined and Pogba made it 3-0 by lifting the ball over Fabianski. Sub Martial then drilled the ball into the corner for the fourth.
INTERACTIVE STATS - CLICK on the categories to find out how the teams fared
INTERACTIVE LINE-UPS– CLICK on a player’s number below to see their stats
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FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- Manchester United were unchanged but Victor Lindelof made it on to the bench despite Jose Mourinho saying he would get a very soft introduction to the Premier League.
- Marcus Rashford was booed by Swansea fans from the opening second, until the end of his afternoon, due to a dive in their 1-1 draw last season.
- Paul Pogba had a flash of red in his hair but a rush of blood to the head could have got him sent off in the first half after a couple of heavy tackles.
- Swansea went for zonal marking at defensive corners, clearly inspired by all the success Arsenal and Liverpool had on the opening weekend.
- Eric Bailly’s first United goal - on the edge of half-time - was his first professional league goal in his 67th top-flight appearance. The 23-year-old defender scored in the Europa League for Villarreal in 2015.
- Tammy Abraham crashed home 26 goals for Bristol City in the Championship last season – he’s obviously up better defences now but he probably got better service at Ashton Gate.
- Man United legend Peter Schmeichel was not happy with a one-goal lead around the hour mark - he politely Tweeted to ask his side for a second.
- And the Great Dane gets what the Great Dane wants - United smashed in three goals in four horror minutes for the Swans.
WHAT THEY SAID...
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba told Sky Sports: "We've had a very good result, 4-0 again with a clean sheet, We want to carry on this road.
"We are more confident [than last season]. We know each other more. We work for each other and I think that is easier for us."
United playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan said: "It was a tough game, especially in the first half. We had passion, we did what we had to do.
“The second half became much easier because they played with more defenders and that left space.
When asked why his side was finishing games so strongly, the Armenian said: "Team spirit. We also have a little luck with the chances we are creating."
Swansea boss Paul Clement told the BBC: “In the end you always get what you deserve but the scoreline is harsh. One to 79 minutes was one goal.
“I made some changes to put offensive players on but we got in a mess defensively and at 2-0 we were vulnerable.
“You have to have belief you are still in the game but we gave the ball away and played to their strengths. They are dangerous on the counter and we were punished.
“I will make sure the players do not let this affect confidence too much against a team competing for the title this year.”
Jose Mourinho said: "During almost 90 minutes, I don't say 90 because there was a moment when they had a chance and we lost a little bit the confidence, they were waiting with class, calm and consistency for the moment to kill the game.
"Swansea played with five in the back and they had a moment when they felt they had to change and when they did we had more space and killed the game.
"I felt in control, if you had a chance to look at me and my body language I think you could see that.
“Football is football and when you make a mistake you can concede so I never felt totally relaxed. I had players on the bench who could help me.
"Happiness in our play. It happened to me so much with my teams, you winning 1-0 and you can concede. There was no need to close the door, just let the horses run freely.
SOCIAL SAYS...
DREAM TEAM RATINGS...
SWANSEA (3-5-2): Fabianski 5; Fernandez 5, Bartley 7. Mawson 5; Naughton 6, Fer 6, Mesa 6, Carroll 5, Olsson 6; Ayew 7, Abraham 5.
SUBS: Narsingh 5, Routledge 5, McBurnie 5.
MAN.UTD (4-3-3) De Gea 6; Valencia 7, Jones 7, Bailly 8, Blind 7; Mata 7, Matic 7, Pogba 8; Mkhitaryan 8, Lukaku 7, Rashford 7.
SUBS: Martial 7, Herrera 6, Fellaini 6.