Moyes' Record-equalling Start

David Moyes made a record-equalling start to league life as United boss with a 4-1 win at Swansea. Here's a brief look at how post-war Reds bosses fared on their league debuts...

Matt Busby | United 2-1 Grimsby | Maine Road, 31 Aug 1946
Flying winger Charlie Mitten and powerhouse forward Jack Rowley got Matt Busby's reign off to a winning start in Division One, although victories over Chelsea (3-0) and Liverpool (5-0) in the first four matches that season rapidly eclipsed this opening day triumph. United agonisingly lost the title in 1946/47 by just one point to Liverpool.

Wilf McGuinness | Crystal Palace 2-2 United | Selhurst Park, 9 Aug 1969
United were twice behind against newly-promoted Palace as Bobby Charlton and then Willie Morgan rescued a point for Wilf McGuinness's team. Bert Head, Palace boss, said: "Manchester United project the image of the First Division. Four goals for five shillings isn't bad, is it?" Things didn't exactly improve for the Reds, who finished eighth that year.

Frank O'Farrell | Derby 2-2 United | Baseball Ground, 14 Aug 1971
Ominously, torrential rain, thunder and forked lightning marked the start of Frank O'Farrell's reign as United boss. The Reds were 2-0 up through Alan Gowling and Denis Law, but it was a case of lightning striking twice for Derby, who won the title that year, as they hit back to claim a draw. United finished eighth for a third consecutive year in 71/72.

Tommy Docherty | United 1-1 Leeds | Old Trafford, 23 Dec 1972
"Manchester United's misfortunes are like Candide's - always appalling, never humdrum," proffered the Guardian as another new man stepped through United's revolving door of managers. "Can Docherty remake [United's] lost reputation?" Against high-flying Leeds, O'Farrell's £200,000 signing Ted MacDougall (soon sold by Docherty) scored one of just five Reds goals, but Allan Clarke spoiled the party with a late equaliser.

Dave Sexton | Birmingham 1-4 United | St Andrews, 20 Aug 1977
"Lou Macari is a lovely little player, isn't he?" Dave Sexton had said before his first league outing at Birmingham; his praise was promptly repaid when Macari bagged a hat-trick - the last Red to do so on the season's opening day. Gordon Hill chipped in with an impressive volley as Sexton's stint started at a canter.

Ron Atkinson | Coventry 2-1 United | Highfield Road, 29 Aug 1981
In a twist of fate Sexton, then the new Coventry boss, handed Ron Atkinson a defeat in his opening league outing. The Sky Blues led until Macari equalised, but Coventry edged it in the second half. "At half-time I'd have put money on us winning," said Ron. "But after we conceded we were always chasing the game."

Alex Ferguson | Oxford 2-0 United | Manor Ground, 8 Nov 1986
The Scot's Reds tenure started inauspiciously at Oxford as the magnitude of awakening the sleeping beast of Manchester United came sharply into focus. "We didn't play with any composure until it was 2-0," bemoaned the boss. "Their confidence has taken a wee bit of a battering." 20th in a 22-team league, things couldn't get much worse.

David Moyes | Swansea 1-4 United | Liberty Stadium, 17 Aug 2013
Some observers have suggested that the unfancied Reds will finish third this term. But the champions look sharp under David Moyes' tutelage, hungry to prove that last term was not merely the work of Sir Alex's magical managerial powers. A long, tough season awaits but Moyes' boys are up for it, it would seem.