SWANSEA CONQUERED

 

Before this season United had yet to face Swansea in the Premiership era and the last time we faced the Swans in the old First Division was in the 1982/83 season. Ron Atkinson was our gaffer at the time and we drew 0-0 at Vetch Field before beating them 2-1 at Old Trafford with Bryan Robson and Frank Stapleton hitting the net. Amazingly though, United have never done the league double over the Swans, a club founded in 1912, in any division in English football. Admittedly there haven't been that many seasons in which the two clubs have been in the same division though even though they're of course based in Wales, Swansea have always played in the English league system.

Fast forward to the present day and Swansea have become the first Welsh team to play in the Premiership as we know it. The gaffter is Northern Ireland's Brendan Rodgers and the Swans haven't done that badly overall so far this season but United's Premiership visit to the Swans' new home at the Liberty Stadium was always going to be a big deal, partly due the Swans' unbeaten run against us. As it was, De Gea was in goal, Carrick and Giggsy centre midfield with Wayne and Hernandez up front. On paper this was still a cinch for the Reds and with City showing no sign of slowing down, the Reds had to get three points back accross the Severn.

Credit to Swansea they were certainly in the mood to give us a match but that ultimately counted for little after the 11th minute when Giggsy set up Hernandez at the other end and the Mexican assasin once again gave us the lead. THat stunned the home crowd for a bit but their guys were quickly on the attack again and we were nearly undone at one point only for one of their guys to show a complete lack of finishing ability. Before the end of the half though we came close to making it two though. The whistle went and while our continental style made us look like a Serie A side, we didn't really have any right to complain. So far so good.

At half time Swansea freshed things up and it almost paid off immediately with Scott Sinclair forcing us to dodge a bullet however once we survived that scare it was back to our old tricks as we looked to squeeze the life out of our opponents. Swansea never really bowed down though and showed flashes of why they've over-achieved in the Premiership so far but it was nothing we couldn't handle and the question late on was, could United get a second? The answer to that unfortunately turned out to be no. The continental style is something United fans are having to get used to but it does seem to be getting results at least. MIssion accomplished again.

Elsewhere, Man City faced Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium. The Magpies, one of the Premiership's surprise packages so far, certainly gave the Blues a match in the first half but City still lead at half time thanks to goals from Mario Balotelli(a pen) and Micah Richards. City effectively finished the game off with a Sergio Aguerro pen but as they picked up injuries late on, the visitors finally hit the net through Dan Gosling but it was too little too late. That means that United remain 2nd in the Premiership and on course for the Champions League group stages next season. They're five points behind leaders City and four points ahead of Newcastle and a detour through the playoffs.

Norther of the border, Aberdeen faced Motherwell at Pittodrie in the SPL. The visitors opened the scoring through Michael Higdon only for the Dons to level soon afterwards through Vernon and Well were unable to retake the lead before half time. They did so in the early stages of the second half though thanks to Omar Daley and after that the Dons just weren't able to get their attacking game together and fell to another defeat. To be fair to the Reds, they hadn't played a game in three weeks but as far as Craig Bown was concerned that was no excuse for conceding two "soft" goals. Once again the former Scotland gaffer has to find a way to turn things round.

Elsewgere, Hearts lost 1-0 to Dundee United at Tannadice Park with the Tangerines getting themselves a first half winner though the visitors certainly had more opportunities over the course of the match, particularly in the second half. Inverness CT were beaten 2-0 by Celtic at the Caledonian Stadium. Credit where credit's due, Caley actually managed to keep a clean sheet against the Old Firm side in the first half but the final score was pretty inevitable. That means that Aberdeen remain 11th in the SPL, eight points behind Hearts at the table half of the table and level on points with Inverness CT and relegation but with a +7 goal difference advantage.

South of the border and down a few levels, Exeter faced Walsall in an all-L1 FA Cup 1st round match at St James's Park. The visitors opened the scoring through Mark Wilson though the Grecians remained competitive throughout the first half. After the interval they even turned up the heat at bit more but Walsall's defence proved stubborn and it looked as though the Grecians were going to face an early exit but in the dying moments of the game David Noble hit an equaliser to buy them a replay. Paul Tisdale was actually reasonably satisfied with that result which is the first time they haven't lost a FA Cup match since the 09/10 season.

(Image taken from Sky Sports)

So, the FA Cup 2nd round draw has been made. United still have yet to enter the competition and Exeter's first problem is the all-L1 first round replay against Walsall at Bank's Stadium. I can't seriously say that I fancy the Grecians' chances in this encounter so this will probably be the end of the road for them. If they do somehow manage to make the 2nd round then they'll face either L2 Dagenham and Redbridge or BSP side Bath City at either Victoria Road or Twerton Park. Those two sides face each other in a 1st round replay at Twerton Park which looks like a prime opportunity to Bath who in turn Exeter would probably be able to see off but there's still a long way to go.

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