Manchester United 1-2 Swansea City - Match Report

Louis van Gaal will know now that this won't be an easy job

Things didn't start off well for Louis van Gaal as he saw his side slump to defeat in the Premier League's opening game of the season.

Louis van Gaal's first competitive game as Manchester United manager ended in a surprise defeat to Swansea City at Old Trafford.

Goals from Sung-yeung Ki and Gylfi Sigurdsson secured victory for Garry Monk's side as Swansea gatecrashed the Dutchman's Premier League welcome party.

Van Gaal started with the same 3-5-2 formation he used with Holland at the World Cup and new signing Ander Herrera was given a first start along with United youngsters Jesse Lingard and Tyler Blackett.

Hopes were high around Old Trafford after six consecutive victories in pre-season but it was an even opening period as Swansea were well organised and looked to hit United on the break. Sigurdsson had the first shot and tested David de Gea from 25 yards, while the hosts came close when Wayne Rooney shot straight at Lukasz Fabianski.

As the first half went on, it was United who started to exert control on the game. Phil Jones almost surprised Fabianski when a deflected cross needed tipping over the bar and Rooney had a decent chance with a header from a corner, but he directed it straight at the keeper.

On 28 minutes Swansea silenced the Old Trafford faithful when they took a surprise lead. It was a neat move down their right wing and the ball fell to Ki on the edge of the box. The Korean kept his head and found the bottom corner with a composed side-footed finish to put Swansea ahead.

The atmosphere changed around Old Trafford as United fans starting having flashbacks to the David Moyes era and Swansea held on to go in ahead at half-time.

Van Gaal opted to make changes for the second half as he brought on Nani for Javier Hernandez and changed to a 4-4-2 formation.

United started in positive fashion and it did not take long for them to get level. On 52 minutes a corner was put in by Juan Mata and flicked on by Jones at the near post, with Rooney on hand six yards out to find the back of the net with an acrobatic strike to send Old Trafford into delirium.

The hosts were much better in the second half as they were pressing much higher and giving Swansea little time on the ball. Rooney was so close to getting a second when he struck a magical free-kick from 25 yards out that bent and dipped before hitting the Swansea woodwork and going wide.

United were looking the more likely to score but Swansea swept up the other end of the field to get a smash-and-grab goal. Summer signing and second-half substitute Jefferson Montero found space on the left wing and put a deep ball into the box that was met by Wayne Routledge. His mis-kicked attempt ran into the path of Sigurdsson, who beat De Gea and the two defenders on the line to get what turned out to be the winner.

From that point on United huffed and puffed but found Swansea a hard unit to break down. The visitors continued to play on the break and United will be thankful to Jones for a last-ditch tackle on Bafetimbi Gomis to stop the substitute going clean through on goal.

Ashley Young tested Fabianski from 25 yards as the game wore on but United struggled to really create chances. Swansea were keeping the hosts at bay with relative ease and United ended up spending the final minutes pumping long balls into the box towards Marouane Fellaini.

It was a sensational win for Swansea and not the opening day that Van Gaal and the United fans would have expected. The Dutchman has a lot to think about and, after an abject display, you would expect him to be busy in the transfer market before the summer window closes.