SWANSEA: A goal from Javier Hernandez at the Liberty Stadium was enough to keep Manchester United hanging on to the coat-tails of Premier League leaders Manchester City.
The 23-year-old Mexican striker struck after 11 minutes to leave United five points behind their city rivals.
Swansea gave it a go in the second half and perhaps deserved a point if only for the manner in which they approached their biggest game in years.
Still, last season’s Championship play-off winners saw their unbeaten home record go despite golden opportunities for Scott Sinclair, Mark Gower and Neil Taylor.
Desperate to close the gap on the runaway leaders, United, who had never previously won in Swansea, should have been a goal down inside four minutes.
Sadly, just as he had at Anfield two weeks previously, Gower wasted a glorious chance from 20 yards.The hosts were made to pay for that miss, barely four minutes later. Ryan Giggs picked up Angel Rangel’s careless pass on the edge of his own box, and Hernandez converted the Welshman’s cross at the near post. It took the sting out of Swansea and the crowd too. A full house attendance had arrived in hope of seeing the Swans extend their unbeaten run on home soil this season.
To their credit they continued to play the kind of expansive football that has endeared them to so many in recent seasons.
Unfortunately, they came up against a United side that begin to grow in confidence on the back of Hernandez’ goal. (Agencies)
