Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
Manchester United will be heading into Wales tomorrow to face last season’s Championship play-off winners Swansea City at the New Liberty Stadium in what will be a huge game for both sides.
The Swans have started life in the Premier League rather well and currently sit 10th in the table after 11 games played. Brendan Rodgers would probably have taken that if you’d offered that position to him in August and the Swans have certainly won many admirers so far this season due to their entertaining passing game which has been one of the reasons why they are currently unbeaten at home to date.
All promoted or struggling sides know that in order for them to stay up they have goals in their team and they just can’t just rely on one player to get them for them. Currently six players have scored for the Swans this season with their club-record signing Danny Graham bagging four goals already in what has been an impressive start to the season.
Due to the way they’ve played recently and considering the fact Swansea – thanks to the outstanding form of their keeper Michel Worm – got a point at Anfield against Liverpool they are a side who have to be respected despite the fact many pundits and fans would look at this game and think ‘away banker.’
United though will want to end Swansea’s ‘honeymoon’ start to the season and with Wayne Rooney fresh from not having to play for England this week, they could be in even better shape up top. Sir Alex Ferguson will know that due to the form of Manchester City, United can ill-afford to drop points this weekend and risk falling further behind Roberto Mancini’s side.
So what can we expect from tomorrow’s game. What will be the key battles on the pitch?
Nemanja Vidic v Danny Graham
There has and will continue to be pressure on Graham’s shoulders this season. Signed for £3.5m from Watford, last season’s top-scorer in the Championship knows that he was signed by Rodgers personally to fire the Swans to Premier League safety.
The former Middlesbrough forward has begun to find his feet in the top-division scoring four goals in his last five matches. This weekend though he will up against arguably the best defender in the division Nemanja Vidic who should be able to deal with his threat easily.
Patrice Evra v Scott Sinclair
It took guts for Scott Sinclair to walk away from Chelsea and drop down to the Championship. The England U21 International though wanted to play games and prove himself and not just sit on the bench at Stamford Bridge, where he knew his first-team chances were next to nothing.
His form last season was outstanding and the silky winger has carried the quality of performances into this season, looking at home in the Premier League. Patrice Evra will have to use all his experience this weekend to keep Sinclair quiet who based on current form is one of the league’s best wingers.
Javier Hernandez v Gark Monk
Few football fans would argue right now that Javier Hernandez is not one of the most lethal strikers in the country. He is due to partner Rooney up top for Untied this weekend and will most likely be marked by Swansea’s Gary Monk.
Monk has worked hard to get back into the Premier League after never really being a proper chance in the top-flight when he was at Southampton previously. The centreback may have to run himself into the ground to keep Chicharito quiet, which will be a tough task to say the least.
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In terms of a prediction for the game, as I stated earlier on in a on in a predictions article, I believe that United will win 2-0. It won’t be an easy game and Swansea backed on by their brilliant supporters will be spurred on to frustrate the reigning League Champions.
Rodgers has correctly stated in the press that the pressure will be on United to win tomorrow and that they make some of his players relax and settle into the game easier. Despite that it’s hard to look past United winning this one.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
