Swansea City extended their unbeaten start to the season to four matches this afternoon with a 2-1 victory over Manchester United at the Liberty Stadium.
United, themselves unbeaten going into the game, took the lead four minutes into the second half when Juan Mata stole in at the back post to fire home Luke Shaw's cross.
Swansea fought back, however, with Andre Ayew levelling things up before creating the winner for Bafetimbi Gomis, who beat Sergio Romero at his near post.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at whether the hosts deserved a third consecutive victory over United.
Match statistics
SWANSEA
Shots: 9
On target: 4
Possession: 36%
Corners: 0
Fouls: 6
MAN UTD
Shots: 11
On target: 4
Possession: 64%
Corners: 1
Fouls: 15
Was the result fair?
United will feel that they deserved at least a point out of this match, but they failed to adequately control the game once they had taken the lead. As the possession stats show, they saw a lot more of the ball than Swansea - not something the visiting team can often boast at the Liberty Stadium - but much of that possession came in areas that wasn't damaging to Garry Monk's side. United certainly started the better, but Swansea grew into the first half and more than held their own today.
In terms of clear chances, the hosts just about edged things. They came closest to scoring in the first half when Gomis hit the post after some brilliant play, while Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jonjo Shelvey also had decent sights of goal before the break. The visitors started the second half the brighter as well, taking the lead and staying on top, forcing Monk into a tactical change as he moved two up front. That soon paid off as Ayew, who had joined Gomis up front as Swansea went to a midfield diamond, scored one and created another in a five-minute period.
Wayne Rooney did have a chance late on for United, only being denied by a brilliant piece of defending from Ashley Williams, but aside from that Swansea saw the game out well. There were certainly nervy moments, and the aerial bombardment that often accompanies Marouane Fellaini's introduction did arrive, but the hosts rarely looked like giving up their lead. They worked very hard for these three points and, while a draw would not have been an unfair result by any means, it is hard to begrudge Monk's side the victory.
Swansea's performance
Only three unbeaten teams remain in the Premier League this season, and the way Swansea have started the campaign it is no surprise that they are one of them. They look capable of beating anybody on their day, and that was the case again this afternoon. It wasn't the perfect performance from Monk's men - they started slowly and struggled to keep the ball anywhere near as well as they usually do - but once again their key players stood up and made the difference.
Ayew is well on course to be the signing of the summer having arrived on a free transfer and scored three goals in four games, while his assist for Gomis was sublime. Gomis himself has now got four goals in as many games at the start of the season, and it could have been even better for him had his first-half effort that hit the post just snuck inside. Sigurdsson also picked up an assist, while Shelvey impressed in midfield and Williams overcame a slight error for the United goal to put in a captain's display as time ticked on.
With those players on top of their game, Swansea can really be a force in this league. They play at a good, quick tempo, and in Monk they have a manager who continues to impress. His tactical awareness was on show again today as he switched the system and was immediately rewarded with two quickfire goals. He has built a very good side and they seem to have the right work ethic too, with every player giving their all for the cause this afternoon when United applied the late pressure. They were very impressive.
Man Utd's performance
The same questions seem to follow every Manchester United league game at the moment - namely whether they need a striker before the transfer window closes on Tuesday. On the evidence of the first four games of the season, the answer is undoubtedly yes. Rooney once again got the nod to lead the line tonight having netted a hat-trick in midweek, but he showed no signs of any newfound confidence as he drew a blank for the 10th game in a row in the Premier League - equal his longest ever drought in England's top flight.
The skipper was barely involved at all until a late chance, and even then he held on to it for too long to allow Williams to make a superb challenge. Rooney was not the only United attacker to disappoint, though, with Memphis Depay once again failing to translate his European performances to the Premier League. Mata did make a difference, and most of United's chances fell to him, but there was certainly something missing from the visitors in the final third that suggests they need more of a cutting edge.
Defensively, questions will also be asked of Daley Blind and Romero for the first time this season, with the latter's mistake for the second goal sure to bring up the David de Gea situation once again. United dominated possession this afternoon but never truly felt like they were in control of the game, even after they had taken the lead. Louis van Gaal is not the type of manager to panic after one poor result, but this match has certainly produced more questions than answers for United fans. Reinforcements look like they are needed if United harbour any hopes of pushing for the title.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Andre Ayew: The Swansea scouts appear to have done it again. Ayew has made a brilliant start to his career at the Liberty Stadium, and he continued that today. His movement in the box is very good, as evidenced by the number of clear headed chances he has had so far, and his assist today was an even bigger highlight than his goal. He bent a pass around the defence with the outside of his boot, allowing Gomis to race on to it and score.
Biggest gaffe
Romero was beaten for the first time in the Premier League today, and five minutes later he let in a second. It was that second goal that he will be most disappointed with, allowing Gomis's tame shot to sneak past him at the near post and trickle over the line. The Argentine found himself in no-man's land and didn't react quickly enough, while his decision to go for the ball with his hands rather than his feet was also strange. It must be said that De Gea is very unlikely to have let that one in.
Referee performance
Martin Atkinson enjoyed a solid game in the middle today. There weren't many major calls for him to make, although Rooney did want a penalty late on for a challenge by Williams. Atkinson was spot on in waving that away, though.
What next?
Swansea: Swansea take their unbeaten record to newly-promoted Watford after the international break.
Man Utd: United, meanwhile, face what is still regarded by many in their camp as the biggest game of the season when they welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford on Saturday, September 12.
Barney Corkhill
