11/01/2014 Match of the Day

Good evening. The Premier League returns with seven games and

possibly the earliest mention on record of squeaky bum time. We have

managers under pressure and relegation six pointer is. -- six

pointers. We have two Scottish people in the

studio, a warm welcome to Ballmer Cardiff manager Malky Mackay. We

begin with a again at the bottom of the table, Sunderland beat

Manchester United in their League Cup semifinal first leg this week

but faced a full side just two points above the drop zone. -- a

full side. Wembley might be within touching

distance of Sunderland in the Capital One Cup but their plight in

the Premier League remains desperate, still bottom of the pile.

Full bounce back from their horror show to beat West Ham and climb out

of the relegation zone. -- Fulham. Clint Dempsey makes his second

Premier League debut for the club, he is on loan for two months, he

scored 50 Premier League goals in his first spell here. Sunderland

make two changes to the side that started on Tuesday against

Manchester United, Adam Johnson and Jack Colback are preferred.

The big discussion around these parts is whether Berbatov will still

be at the club come the end of the January transfer window.

Berbatov didn't get hold of it at all, down into the turf. It is a

sin. In the end for Mannone. -- a simple stop.

Another wonderful opportunity for the Fulham striker, and Wes Brown is

the most relieved man in the ground. It is a lovely ball, Berbatov could

have had a touch, if truth be told. At the moment, Fulham are

considerably the better side. The shot came off the back of Jack

Colback, it is a good save by Stockdale. It's the closest

Sunderland have come so far. Stockdale was a cross swiftly.

The foul is by Sidwell. Mike Dean, right under the visitors. Adam

Johnson, probably the most skilled exponent of free kicks, looking for

O'Shea. And Steven Fletcher missed the

target. A well rehearsed routine, this. Fletcher had lost his marker.

Just one win for Sunderland in their last nine games. It came on Boxing

Day against ten man Everton. Taarabt! A great save by Mannone.

And Taarabt's search for his first Fulham bowl in the Premier League

continues. Horrific stop. -- terrific stop.

He was just clipped by Sidwell as he looked to pull the trigger. The

slightest of touches, but there was a touch. Johnson is beginning to

have an influence on proceedings. And he scored! Stockdale got a

fingertip to it but Adam Johnson, on his return to the starting line-up

gives Sunderland the lead. Should Stockdale have done better? Having

got both hands to it, maybe he should have kept it out. Adam

Johnson, who scored against Carlisle a week ago in the FA Cup, has scored

a far more important goal here today. Gus Poyet describe this game

is not quite a cup final, more other semifinal. You get history, it's

important. -- you get his drift. That was a reckless challenge, oh

yellow card for the Norwegian. Somewhat theatrical run Marini, the

leap into the sky. But it was a reckless challenge.

It was pulled back for Ki Sung-Yueng, and it is goal number

two! Whatever they did on the training ground has worked!

Sunderland are leading 2-0, five minutes before half-time. Senderos

might have got a touch. What matters is it ends up in the back of David

Stockdale's net. Not many people saw this coming. No team has conceded

more than one's 44 this season. -- than temp macro's 44.

Alonso got the shout to turn that time. Good spell of pressure from

Fulham. There is one back! Steve Sidwell with it. Poor marking from

Sunderland, six minutes into the second half, Fulham are back in this

one. Who were supposed to be marking him? He drifted away from Marcos

Alonso. A shocker from Sunderland point of view. Sidwell, with his

fifth of the season. So far this season, when Sidwell has scored,

Fulham have not lost. Just what they wanted. Get one back early on and

see what happens after that. Cattermole went for it, Stockdale

kept it out at full stretch. Cattermole doesn't score goals, only

four in his whole career. A lovely return pass. Johnson! Two

goals in an afternoon for Adam Johnson! What a wonderful day on the

banks of the Thames for Adam Johnson. Sunderland's forgotten man.

There is daylight again between Sunderland and Fulham, a breakaway

goal. A great ball from Altidore, even better from Ki Sung-Yueng.

Through the legs of Stockdale. It's a wonderful counterattack from

Sunderland and surely the three points are safe now.

Fulham, facing the prospect of their seventh home defeat of the season.

It looped awkwardly for Mannone. He backpedalled furiously to palm away.

This would wrap it up. Altidore goes down. Penalty given. It was clumsy

from Senderos. It was a careful decision by the referee, because it

was a somewhat theatrical fall to the ground by Altidore, but he was

definitely caught badly by Senderos, nowhere near the ball. Mike Dean had

a good look at this, no second guesses as to who will take it.

What a glorious day for Adam Johnson and Sunderland. Sunderland with

three vital, vital points in their attempt to remain a Premier League

club next season. Could not have gone much better for Sunderland, it

certainly could not have gone much better for Adam Johnson. He scored

three and set up the other goal. We all know how important it is to

win your home games, especially against the teams around you, it was

a massive opportunity missed to slide up the table. We done it, we

did it in style, we are in a position where there are not too

many games to play, so very good performance today. What about Adam

Johnson? So please him. The other day he made my day, today he went a

bit further! I just said to myself, it's a new start now, New Year, get

to playing how I used to. You must be nudging Roy Hodgson now. It was

always on my mind, you never know, stranger things have happened.

Hopefully I will force my way back into the squad.

Great day for him and Sunderland. He promised so much for long, but

rarely delivered, he certainly did today? We had him at Watford when he

was a youngster, he ripped up the Championship at that point. The

confidence is needed. Under the last manager there was a confidence

problem with him. Gus is talking today about no more excuses, it's

time for him to sit up and take his chance to go to the World Cup.

Set-pieces. Great move here, involved in. Anything... Even his

defending. Comes back there and, you know, as I said, everything that was

good about Sunderland, beautiful set-piece. Everything that

confidence again in the flick. The style that Gus Poyet brought in will

help him? Very much so. He wants to attack. Here he's creating as well.

This is the one where he comes inside. Was he touched there? It was

minimal contact, but it does take place. There is an argument he takes

two steps and he still buys the foul. That is where the goal comes

from, as you see. Stockdale got both his hands to it, he can do better.

Great technique, but on another day he would push that out. This is

great. O'Shea makes the move. He starts it off and shows leadership

qualities. Gus will be delighted that training ground move took

place. Riise will be disappointed, sees Adam there and let's him go. He

sticks his third goal in. Now he is telling us how many goals he scored

going off the pitch. He is a massive talent. If he goes like that, he can

keep Sunderland up. When he is not playing so well he has to do more.

He has to want it more. He has to have that belief. Work harder.

Fulham, they are consistently inconsistent? They are a funny old

team. They have lost 46 goals in 21 league games, 11 more than any other

side, Norwich, that will tell their own story for me. They are an ageing

side. You would fancy Sunderland to stay up and Fulham to go down after

today. They have three away games in the next four, Arsenal, Swansea and

Manchester United. That could define the season for them. Big time ahead.

Big trouble for Big Sam, West Ham second from bottom in the table were

thrashed by 5-0 in the FA Cup and 6-0 by Manchester City in the League

Cup today they faced Cardiff for who Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was making his

debut as manager. Premier League bow for one manager, could it also be a

potential farewell for the other? The contrast between Ole Gunnar

Solskjaer and Sam Allardyce couldn't be much greater. There have been

four changes to the side that won against Newcastle in the Cup last

weekend: The key decision for Big Sam is

whether he could thurst Carroll into his first game of the season after

an eight month absence, the answer, just from the bench, that has been

described as a calculated risk. There are four alterations to the 11

who lost at Manchester City with Roger Johnson making his first

Premier League appearance since joining this week. Great ball in.

It's almost gone in. It stopped, only just. Jarvis back in. West Ham

United very nearly in front. The ball was delivered into the area.

Nobody went for it. It came off the right hand upright.

Ball in, a cracker. Campbell did his very best to get to it. I think he

hit the post on the way through. I think he's OK though. Here is Noone.

Campbell tries to get to it. Was that a push? No. A collision, says

Lee Mason. In fairness, he might have got that right, Lee Mason.

Certainly leans into him, doesn't he Demel, before he takes a whack

himself. That is a very distressing sight indeed.

Nice drop of the shoulder. Nice exchange of the feet. Nice skills

from Odemwingie. Noone was hoping to benefit from Odemwingie's guile and

craft. It was McCartney who made a really good block here. Now, Kim.

Urged on by those donned in red. The deflection, take it is off the

underside of the bar. Then, is it over the line? We've got the

technology these days. Actually, there was a foul. It's all about

whether that first ball crossed the line. The second one doesn't matter.

It was very close to the line. But not over it. Then there a foul by

Campbell. That would have been a goal. Taylor.

No offside. Carlton Cole will score. What a big goal that is. Lovely

little clip over the top. No offside. And and, Carlton Cole

provides Sam Allardyce with a key moment that could be possibly a

turning point for his team and himself. Lovely layoff by Jarvis,

and Carlton Cole thumps it into the net. That will make everyone feel a

lot better, but him especially. Whittingham and now Noone. Oh, now

that definitely struck an arm. I don't think that McCartney knew a

whole heap about it. I'm convinced it bounced off his arm. It does. But

the feeling is there was no deliberate intent to hit the ball

with the arm. Well, a big decision to back the manager, David Gold

believing they have the right man. Here's Medel, opens up to be hit.

Bellamy lifts it in. Claims of a penalty dismissed. Lee Mason had a

good look, and could not have been more dismissive. Now, looking at

that angle, does McCartney have a couple of arms around Campbell?

Kym, Bellamy skavrperring. Here is Bellamy. In towards Campbell. Great

save. Fantastic save by Adrian. Saves don't get much more

significant than that. Should West Ham keep their cleansheet, they will

thank their keeper. That's a foul by tomorrow skins. That is a foul. He's

going through his paces. Is it just to keep warm or are we about to see

Andy Carroll? Bellamy. Good tackle. Campbell. Still with Campbell. And

Noone. Foul on Campbell, free-kick on the edge of the area. Yellow card

for Johnson. Not a pretty challenge, was it? It is Bellamy. It's just

beyond the post. Adrian hurled himself at it, couldn't get there,

but it was beyond his post. Well, here is the change that has been

spoken about all week. Carlton Cole, the goalscorer, coming off, but most

significantly, Andy Carroll is coming on. If Carlton Cole is to be

the hero, he will be on the bench to celebrate it. Now, that's a foot up

by Tomkins. Yellow card. He's already had one. And, he is off.

Well, he misses the ball and catches Campbell square in the face and now

this extraordinary match takes another dramatic twist.

Good ball by Carroll. Noble. Finishes it! A heroic display,

celebrate joyiously by those who have come from the East End of

London and those who had faith in the manager. Sam Allardyce has his

win. They have their win. A miserable, miserable week has a

very, very happy ending. If performances say a lot about what

players think of the man in charge, then this is a performance that says

- we want him to stay in charge. It is a big win. A huge win. And, the

support from the Board has been vindicated. There didn't seem to be

any problems out there? It's only a lack of confidence when you are not

winning games or not getting points where you feel as though you can.

They are certainly battling for themselves as well as the

supporters, as well as the staff, certainly the manager. I think that

shows the way we went down to 10 men. They put their bodies on the

line and got their just rewards. Great to keep a cleansheet and get

three points. We wanted a win here today, it wasn't to be. We had about

double the possession of them. We had twice the shots. So sometimes

football is that way, that you don't get what you deserve. 11 goals in in

the last two games. As a professional player you don't want

that to happen. The our first... Certainly today was to get a

cleansheet we build from there. How was Big Sam in the dressing room. He

has come urned pressure? He certainly has. He showed today in

his team selection he got it right. He is in a good place today. That is

for sure. Big Sam refrained from talking to the media after losing

his voice shouting I would imagine. Great turn around. Credit to them. I

think it's great to see that sometimes when a manager is under

pressure the players are under pressure, the club is under pressure

for the players to come out and give a performance that was just

absolutely phenomenonal. When you talk about the grit and

determination and the fighting spirit of those players today, that

played for West Ham, it was magnificent to see. They got one or

two breaks. They rode their luck at times, it might have been different.

That would never detract from the performance. Sam must have said

something special in the dressing room before the start of the game.

This is Kim. If that goes in 0-0, it might be different. Then they are a

couple of penalty appeals Cardiff. That one with McCartney. The next

one McCartney and phrasel Campbell, the referee might have given that.

Every time that Cardiff have a shot, strikes straight down the throat of

the West Ham goalkeeper. Finally, this is the best save of the lot.

Again, that would never detract from the West Ham performance it was

phenomenonal. I suppose, in these circumstances, you need your big

players to stand tall. No bigger player on that pitch today than Mark

Noble. The clips cannot do him justice. He is injured here, a nasty

one there. He is down. I said to Malky Mackay, he's off, it was that

bad. He he played virtually every position. That is in the hold in

front of the back four. We pick him up here, spotting the danger.

Identifying the danger and clears it, hooks it away. Same again. Just

nips it away and West Ham in possession. This time he is at right

back. Blocks the cross. Then he goes to centre-back. Great header. Then,

the last like 10-15 minutes he is now an attacking midfield player.

Gave him so much respite in position. Andy Carroll who came on,

he has run like 50 odd yards there. This time, he is buy time. Keep hold

of the ball. Get it in the corner. He is supporting Andy Carroll. He

comes in. A great finish. Well-deserved. I tell you something

else. If there is a better performance today or tomorrow than

that, I want to see it. It will be a good one. Malky Mackay

two-and-a-half years you were manager of Cardiff City football

club, they lost that game today. What state do you think they have

left them in? I think we have a squad who are absolutely competitive

and can stay up. They are a great group of players. They have got a

lot of togetherness on there. There is a good structure and balance to

the football club. A terrific group of fans. That home stadium has most

of the bottom 10 to play at home. Missing it? Absolutely. I loved my

time at the club. Loved my job and liked living in Cardiff and the

people of Wales. Surely you would rather be with us? Apart from you

being with with you. How do you look back at your time Very fondly. This

year, we went and beat two or three of the big teams and managed to beat

Swansea the local rivals. Really fondly. I would like to get your

opinion on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. A good appointment? A good job for

him? I think it is a great job from him, coming into the Premier League

and into the club that has the structure and the staff and he has a

decent training ground, 30,000 people want to come to the games

every week and a team that are absolutely competitive and go and

have a chance of staying up. The right man to come in? A decent

appointment. He has done when -- done well, he has done well in

Norway. It is different managing in the Premier League. There is a

culture shock as well. I am sure. We have seen two games from the bottom

of the table and we want you to pick the team you think is most likely to

be relegated this season. Go to the BBC Sport website to cast your vote,

or you can tweet. We will come up with your bottom

three at the end of the programme. In the day's early game Chelsea had

the chance to go top of the table but to do so they had to beat Hull

City side who have kept six clean sheets at home, the most in the

division. Guy Mowbray was at the KC Stadium.

Tom Huddlestone has had a haircut, he has raised over ?6,000 for cancer

research. Hazard it's a more regular scorer from the Chelsea midfield.

The team's top scorer, with ten goals, two have come in the last

three Premier League games. Petr Cech stands on the brink of a club

record. His next clean sheet will be his 209th for Chelsea, one more than

the great Peter Bonetti. They have a pretty close relationship, Steve

Bruce and Jose Mourinho. Seven previous management meetings. Jose

Mourinho has won five and drawn two. Littlemore goes for goal and Cech,

it must have been moving. He got himself in the good position, Cech,

he was watching it and felt the safest course of action was to beat

the ball clear. There was a wobble under swerve under save. Tom

Huddlestone with the Hull corner. You can tell he feels he should have

done better than that. He managed to get away from Ramires, not quite a

free header but fairly free. We used to see Bruce senior pop a few of

those in from that sort of position. It is Sagbo. He has missed the

target and it was a chance that was gifted to him by the Chelsea

captain. Too casual, closed down by Liverpool, deflected to Sagbo, who

felt he had to take it first-time and smash it and it swerved

viciously wide. Both bosses are prowling. Steve Bruce has not taken

a seat from the start. Jose Mourinho has been up and down. A bit of a

scowl across his face as well. Oscar, what a save by McGregor. What

a save! Oscar had time. Chelsea fans at the other end were revving

themselves up to celebrate what looked a certain goal. Look at

Oscar, he had all the time in the world, it seems. A really good

reaction save. Three minutes of the 45, plus whatever is added on for

Chelsea to find a goal and for Jose Mourinho to finish his half-time

teat not -- his half-time team talk notes.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other in Mark Clattenburg's view.

Livermore making the indication that he thinks David Luiz made far too

much of that. They are going to sort it out between themselves. David

Luiz is taking Livermore away, saying, let's have a chat about it.

What about the early block from Meyler on Hazard? It is inside the

box. A good old-fashioned shot off the shoulder. It is the next tackle

that Chelsea did not like, a feeling that Livermore came over the top.

Mark Clattenburg is explaining why he has given the free kick. He

doesn't view it as a reckless challenge, or a card would be out

and David Luiz is happy to forget about it. It will be forgotten about

by Chelsea if they can do something from this. Just two in the wall,

Huddlestone and Boyd. There is a Chelsea part of it, Gary Cahill.

David Luiz over the wall and McGregor had to do what he needed to

do. Don't even think about it while backpedalling and looking at the

pace of the ball, just get it up and away.

Alex Bruce was trying to keep control, struggling on the floor.

The whistle went, everybody stopped and looked at Mark Clattenburg, who

after explaining his decision told everybody it was a free kick for

Chelsea. David Luiz has already tried one. It might be him going for

the Big Dipper again. Parried clear by McGregor, a

different sort of safe to have to make, but another one made. That one

swerving rather than dipping. Maybe a bit of both involved. Did not have

enough pace in it to truly troubles the Hull keeper.

He has scored! Hazard. He picked the right moment, found the right spot.

Hull City nil, Chelsea won. He has been the most skilful player on the

pitch since the start of the game. Number 11 for him. You would not

fancy Hull to get back into it, even at just 1-0.

Pinpoint perfect with the accuracy. What have Hull got about them now?

Hull City nil, Chelsea one. Celebrated by everybody with Chelsea

at heart, except one man, who will be doing it inside in his own

special way. Scored at Southampton on New Year's Day. The first one

went in on the hour mark, the last one on the 82nd minute. This is

Chelsea's sort of time to take the lead and turn the screw. It looks as

if the pattern is starting to repeat.

Torres is desperate for a goal. A really good run, he has got his

goal! Fernando Torres, on target for the second Premier League game in a

row. Chelsea wrap up the points. Torres scores on the occasion of his

200th appearance in the Premier League. He has been quiet for such a

lot of the game but as soon as he took up possession he had his mind

set on scoring. Chelsea, at least for a short while,

and going to the top of the Barclays Amir league. If we being honest it

was arguably our poorest performers against one of the big teams. When

you play against a big team you have to play really well. I know

everybody is on top of their game. Today, we just didn't pass the ball

well enough. We kept surrendering the possession of one thing you have

to do is keep hold of the ball because if you give it back to them

then eventually they will create something. We had some difficulties

in the first half and it was difficult to open it up and once the

opportunity came McGregor made two great saves to keep the score level.

The second half, we stepped up our game and the first goal changed

everything. The goal has to arrive and it will arrive and the good

thing is that after that we were comfortable. It was not the

situation, not that it was comfortable and when Torres scored

the second goal I think it was going in that direction and in the 1-1

direction, so well done. Chelsea go top of the table for the first time

this season. He is a canny old Portuguese so-and-so? Very

impressive today. When they went away from home against Manchester

United and Arsenal, it was nothing game, he was castigated for doing

it. Today, they take no chances. It is tricky to go to Hull, the front

four at times were against nine men. If anybody joined in the front

four automatically one of the four would come out and left it four

against nine. The theory of all this is eventually he thinks that quality

will take over and that is what he was proved right.

We have the front four, there is nobody coming in and eventually the

two coming but there is four against nine, so as I say when the ball

comes out if any of the two want to join in, the right back comes into

the picture. But there is still four up front against the nine, then

David Luiz goes in, Willian comes out and you have the four. So what

you are doing is you have plenty in reserve, you take no chances

whatsoever. They switched the play. Ashley Cole comes in, Hazard comes

out. What have you got? You have still got the four. It was amazing

in the first half how this pans out. It was like time after time that you

would still have the four and it did not matter who joined up. You always

have the two home players and the back four. John Terry came forward

in one instance and Mourinho shouted, get right back. Of course

it worked an absolute treat because in the end it was so comfortable.

Even the counterattack, you have a different four there but it is four.

Ramiro is has joined in, Willian has gone back. You have got to have a

lot of discipline to do that. It is not easy. It looks easy there but I

tell you what, he must have drilled them in training to do that sort of

thing. You talked about the quality would see them through and so it

proved. Hazard in particular is wonderful. Such a great player. He

has talent and ability. He scored today, his ninth goal, it equals his

tally for last season. He is so tricky. He has got stronger in the

time he has been in the Premier League. This is wonderful, he gets

up quick and gets the ball from Ashley Cole and produces a great

cross for Oscar. A brilliant save from McGregor. Here, Curtis Davies,

on another day you might have got something for that but Huddlestone,

one against one, leaves him for dead. Then, when it comes to the

goal he scores, five minutes before it he is in the same position. He

cuts inside. There is a bit -- there are about six after him and it goes

wide. The goal is so much quality. He goes to hit, fantastic. Behind

the goals, look at that. Phenomenal ability. They are right in the mix.

I am not kidding you. Again, they have talked about Chelsea all season

and the board, the first half against Liverpool, they have

multitalented players and he has done the job before. Malky, as the

Hull, difficult for them today but they are in the middle of the

table. They came up with you last season. He has done a good job,

Steve Bruce? I have watched a lot of them and Steve will be delighted.

Disappointed today but overall they have been competitive, resilient and

they have had a couple of big scalps this season. He has done a really

good job this year. Three down and four more games still to come.

Now, to Old Trafford when Manchester United's record in 2014 reads three

games, three defeats in three different competitions. It is their

worst run for 13 years. Obviously we are not in the best spell of format

the moment. He could shoot, he finds Eriksen instead, 2-0 to Spurs.

Unbelievable that the referee does not give a penalty kick. Howard Webb

is not giving anything. He knocks Manchester United out for sure. It

is what you do with them and how we move on. It is a penalty to

Sunderland. How could a linesman give that? Borini scores. David

Moyes' men faced the Swansea side who knocked them out of the FA Cup

last week. Steve Wilson is your commentator.

Danny Welbeck has been doing what he can in the absence of Wayne Rooney

and van Persie. Another defeat here will equal Manchester United's worst

run in 54 years. Is this and other day, or Groundhog Day? -- another

day or Groundhog Day. Raphael went down holding his face.

The referee's whistle was swift, and gave the free kick. I am not sure

that Jonjo Shelvey actually caught him in the face.

Swept over the top of the bar by Vidic! He is saying he was pushed. A

really good ball in by Januzaj, no question about that. Is he pushed?

That is an arm in the back. Not the world's biggest push.

Valencia can hit it! Tremendous save. Tremmel with a really good

save, in the Swansea goal. I think the referee had already blown for a

free kick. He had given it, so it wouldn't have counted.

Januzaj hit the woodwork. Tremmel got there just ahead of Fletcher. It

is a foul on Valencia. Januzaj against the crossbar, unlucky.

Tremendous free kick. The goalkeeper is beaten. A couple of inches lower,

it would have been a goal. Routledge's pull-back was behind

Wilfried Bony. It was a great fall from Jonjo Shelvey. It came to

Routledge, he was onside, but that was a poor touch.

It was hit by Fletcher. Rising too much. Better from Manchester United.

At times in this game, they have really put Swansea under the cosh.

That was well worked. They would love to see him in a Manchester

United shirt rather than in a padded coat. Sir Alex Ferguson is not here

today. Welbeck Mrs! Great opportunity. The

best of the game. Beautifully worked, too. Valencia picked out

Raphael, and he could do no more, it's just required Danny Welbeck to

hit the target. And he didn't. And his reaction tells you that he knows

he should have done. A great save! Valencia, 1-0! Antonio

Valencia with the goal for Manchester United. And they have the

lead right at the start of the second half. Januzaj here, waited

his moment and then delivered a great ball. A good save by Tremmel,

who is unlucky. You don't play for Manchester United if you can't stick

the ball into an unguarded net from three yards, and Valencia scores.

Great start the half for Manchester United. A little over a minute, they

lead. He couldn't get it away from Davis,

it is a corner only. One or two United players thought that might

have been a foul. Januzaj did well, in October

Routledge. You just feel a second goal is coming.

The touch from Welbeck, 2-0! And Manchester United look safe now.

Tremmel tried to get Swansea going on the counter and yen won it back,

knocking over Routledge. Then it is Kagawa's, and they never really get

it away. The little glancing touch from Welbeck was enough. And

Manchester United doubled their lead. Two goals in the first 15

minutes of the second half, very difficult to say a way back into

this game for Swansea City. The United corner. He is flying, the

boy. And Swansea are really struggling to cope with him.

I think I did say after the first goal that you don't play for

Manchester United if you can't put the ball into the back of an

unguarded net from three yards. Turns out that Chris Smalling can't,

on this occasion, you really should have done. Not bad on the high bar

but not great in front of goal! He should have done better. That was

a clear opportunity, wasted. He got his timing or wrong. -- all wrong.

The right pass, Kagawa is in. Can he finished? Nelly Carte! -- know he

can't! You feel there is a real desire in Old Trafford to see Shinji

Kagawa flourish and do well, but the opportunities that come his way to

do that have not always been taken. This was another.

The crowd have been terrific at Old Trafford, we gave them something to

shout about especially in the second half, not so much the first. I think

we did well in the first half but of course, giving away after 90 seconds

in the second half, that was the thing we didn't want, and just the

thing they wanted, so it gave them much more confidence and they are

good players. We should have scored three or four, we missed some good

chances. Even though we won the game, we are still expecting more

from each other, that is the sort of performance we should be putting in

every week. It isn't players getting carried away, that should have been

one today. Great to see him backplane. Significant feature was

that David Moyes change things. He put Januzaj back out wide. He put

Kagawa where he really should be plain, as a number ten.

You see here, he's involved in everything that went well in the

second half. He became massively influential throughout the game, his

balance, running with the ball, that is like a young Ryan Giggs. And I

think he is believing he can be playing at that level for Manchester

United, that is a huge bonus. Special talent. They think really

highly of him here at Old Trafford. You see him linking up with Danny

Welbeck, puts a beautiful ball in, a really teasing ball to the back

post. And it leads to Valencia scoring the goal. You see him here,

back tracking, he sets up this goal here, I tracking back. They give it

to him out wide, and again, good delivery. He has a bit of

everything, he can trouble, the intelligence to bring other people

into the game. -- he can dribble. After three defeats like that, at

the start of the year, that was vital. Absolutely, and they played a

lot better. If you win a title easily, you don't

become a bad side overnight but if you have one or two set backs, the

confidence goes. It is always the same, you have the best team that

has ever been in England, you still need to look to strengthen, doesn't

matter who you are. If you have won the title with a distinctly average

side maybe, you need five or six new faces. They have maybe five players

there that, not past their best, but coming to the end of their career.

That wind changes nothing for Manchester United. They are in

touching distance of the Champions' League but they need fresh faces.

It's difficult transfer window in January. There are special players

who are needed to come in, but they have missed players, the likes of

Vidic, Fletcher, Michael Carrick. And van Persie who were so

influential last year. Chelsea next week. Mice and easy! The thing is,

if they go to Chelsea and get eaten, they are back to square one. -- get

beaten. Two games tomorrow which will also feature the December goal

of the month. -- two games on the programme tomorrow.

Tonight, we have all the goals from the foot will leak, we have 15 in

our three featured games -- the football league. We have two

Tremadog local derbies, Sheffield Wednesday up against Leeds, while

leaders Leicester took on