Swansea 2-1 Manchester United: Ki Sung-Yueng and Bafetimbi Gomis seal first ever double over Man Utd

After a first half that finished with a goal apiece, with Ki Sung-Yeung equalising for Garry Monk’s side after Ander Herrera opened the scoring

Van Gaal did display some ambition by replacing his more defensive full backs with Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young. And to a degree it worked. Until Gomis’s 73rd minute winner United were much the dominant side.

But Swansea completed a fist ever Premier League double over the Old Trafford club because of the lack of cohesion and fluency that has too often been evident in United’s football this season. Because this remains very much a work in progress for their former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Ajax boss.

He reverted back to a more familiar line-up on Saturday, pairing Wayne Rooney with Robin van Persie in attack and leaving Radamel Falcao on the bench. The result? Rooney’s first shot on target in the Premier League in 2015.

But Van Persie remains a shadow of the player who inspired that last Premier League title, while a midfield comprising Herrera, Angel di Maria, Marouane Fellaini and Daley Blind was not entirely convincing.

Swansea did start well. Wayne Routledge had a shot on the turn saved by David de Gea. But that first shot on target for Rooney in the Premier League this year, one that came after 21 minutes, was indicative of a visiting team beginning to get into their stride.

Their opening goal came seven minutes later, Rooney and Di Maria combining well before Herrera unleashed a marvelous first-time strike that beat Lukasz Fabianski via the inside of his far post. 

Even so, United had Swansea clinging on at times in their own half, and that would have made what followed – that decisive goal from Gomis – all the more frustrating for Van Gaal. Even if it was not completely undeserved.