Match Preview

Louis van Gaal is eager for a first win against his "ghost team" as Manchester United look to halt a three-match losing sequence against Swansea City in the Barclays Premier League.

United ended a run of four straight defeats in all competitions with a 0-0 draw against Chelsea on Monday, a match after which their manager vowed not to resign given the spirited display of his players.

The 13-time BPL champions begin the new year five points adrift of the top four and will face a team who have won four of their last five meetings, including two of their previous three visits to Old Trafford.

Despite their poor record, Van Gaal insists there is no magic wand to be waved in order to end their Swansea curse, but has called on his side to improve upon their past displays.

He said on Thursday: "Swansea have been what I call my ghost team, meaning we are looking to start this new year with what I have been told you say in England by breaking the duck.

"It's always the same. You make a game plan to beat your opponent. We have lost three times to Swansea but then you have to analyse why you have lost.

"It's always like that. And then you continue with the same vicious circle of working. It's not any magic. It's looking to what has happened and what you can improve as a team but also as an individual player."

Swansea managed just one win in the 11 matches after their victory over Man Utd in August, prompting the departure of manager Garry Monk, and one subsequent victory in four under caretaker boss Alan Curtis has left the Swans two points above the bottom three.

But with no defeats and no goals conceded since their 2-1 loss to Manchester City on 12 December Curtis wants his players to "be bold" at Old Trafford.

"We've done exceptionally well against them in the last three games, but we know it will be a tough game and we'll have to be at our best again," he said.

"Some of their results have been a little indifferent but they were excellent against Chelsea on Monday and the game could have swung their way on another day. We've just got to go there and perform, be bold and play our football."

The Red Devils, seeking a first win in nine matches, are likely to be without Jesse Lingard (hamstring) for the game, while Luke Shaw (leg), Antonio Valencia (ankle) and Maros Rojo (shoulder) are definitely out.

Van Gaal is consequently not expected to make many changes from the Chelsea draw, whereas Swansea could welcome back Angel Rangel, Leon Britton, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Ki Sung-yueng and Andre Ayew to the starting line-up after making eight changes for the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.

Curtis has confirmed that Wayne Routledge (knock) should return to the squad, while Federico Fernandez (heel) could be fit to travel. Eder (ankle) is a doubt, while Franck Tabanou is unlikely to be involved despite recovering from a thigh problem.

Manchester United (from): De Gea, Romero, Valdes, Darmian, Jones, McNair, Smalling, Varela, Blind, Carrick, Fellaini, Herrera, Lingard, Mata, Pereira, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Young, Depay, Martial, Rooney.

Swansea City (from): Fabianski, Nordfeldt, Tremmel, Alfei, Amat, Bartley, Fernandez, Naughton, Rangel, Tabanou, Taylor, Williams, Ayew, Britton, Cork, Grimes, Ki, Lucas, Montero, Routledge, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Barrow, Eder, Emnes, Gomis..

Match Appointments
Referee: Jonathan Moss Assistants: J Collin, A Halliday Fourth Official: M Oliver

Match Facts
- Manchester United have won three of their last four Barclays Premier League home matches against Swansea City, though they did lose the most recent encounter.
- Bafetimbi Gomis has scored the winning goal in each of the last two league matches against Man Utd.
- United have found the back of the net in all 12 of their home league encounters with Swansea (25 goals in total), winning nine (D2 L1).
- Wayne Rooney has been directly involved in three goals in his last four BPL matches against Swansea (one goal, two assists).
- Swansea have won four of the last five meetings with Man Utd in all competitions, all by a 2-1 scoreline, including two of their last three visits to Old Trafford.
- Swansea have won just one of their last 10 league away matches, losing six of these (D3).
- Man Utd have now gone eight matches without victory in all competitions, their worst run since January 1990 (also eight). The last time that they went nine in a row without a win was in November 1988.
- United’s last two league defeats from leading positions have both come against Swansea (2-1 in February 2015 and August 2015

I knw swansea will make it 2-0, make e no plenty else man utd don finish

Op rewrite the Title as Man United vs Swansea and not Swansea city vs Man united...







Verdict: both teams are struglling though Swansea might be 3 games unbeaten now. But it is high time United end their poor run of 8 games without a win. 2-0

Change of topic frm Ybnl Boss Vs Mavin Boss... No winner yet..
ManU Vs Swansea... Cross leg till den

Man u must win

I smell another theatre of boredom sorry, theatre of dream upset tonight.

Team swansea

1

The game will end Manchester United 1 Vs Swansea City 2.............

This is new year old things have passed away. Man.utd to win this game..but thunder go fire LVG if him benched either schneiderlin or herrera!

if we play swansea the way we played chelsea, we will win swansea with more than 2 goals.. Up man u!.. Vanhaal i nor blame you!

Under 2.5 goals




Most scoring half - 2nd half



Both team to score

Maxcollins042:
I smell another theatre of boredom sorry, theatre of dream upset tonight.

What is wrong with that your nose?

The game is over here



FT: Man U 1 - 4 Swansea

The Bonanza is still on till Dasuki colleague LVG Mr. cheerful giver is sacked.

jnrbayano:

What is wrong with that your nose?

What is wrong with your eyes?

Manchester united ought to win dis match...

Fear they catch me to watch United game self.

catlova:
The game is over here



FT: Man U 1 - 4 Swansea

Can we bet 60k say Manchester united win this game ??

This 6.50 odd for swansea to win is hard to ignore sha

Dem go still loose today, abegii make we #leavetrashforlawma

Atmmachine:


Can we bet 60k say Manchester united win this game ??

Im afraid i cant. Look at your signature, you ll just come rob me after i win your 60k

catlova:
The game is over here



FT: Man U 1 - 4 Swansea

I can deduce from your prediction that Man utd recently spoiled your ticket.

Man U straight lose!

catlova:


Im afraid i cant. Look at your signature, you ll just come rob me after i win your 60k

You ain't serious

Atmmachine:
The way Manchester united played against Chelsea, i don't think Swansea city will win this match.
Who wanna bet 60k ??

....Bro keep ur money except u want to throw ur money away because Manchester united can win this Game....is either draw or swansea Win.

Nawahh oooo....This thread still dey it's single page after about 30mins of making homepage

A must win for united

Man U going down today!