Rooney Admits Swansea Defeat Is Hard To Take

Wayne Rooney was upset with Manchester United’s inability to test goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium, where the Reds surrendered a first-half lead in "disappointing" fashion.

Ander Herrera capped a wonderful passing move to score the game’s opening goal in the 28th minute, though parity was immediately restored as South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng equalised with an impressive close-range finish on the half-hour mark.

Although United dominated overall, controlling 64 per cent of possession and registering 18 shots at goal, it was the Swans who took three points after ex-Liverpool player Jonjo Shelvey hit a powerful 30-yard shot that deflected in off Bafetimbi Gomis.

“Of course, it is hard to take,” Rooney told MUTV in South Wales. “Certainly, in the second-half, I thought we dominated up until they scored and I thought we scored a great goal to go 1-0 up. I was really disappointed in the way we conceded a goal, coming from a throw-in so soon after we scored.

“We went in at half-time knowing that we could play better and we were disappointed with the goal that we conceded. In the second half, I thought we dominated and they were struggling to get out and then they hit us with a sucker punch, a shot from 30 yards and a deflected goal. These things happen but it was a disappointing day for us.

“If we could have kept hold of the lead until half-time, Swansea would have had to have tried to come out more leaving even more space for us. As I said before, I thought we dominated but maybe didn’t test the keeper enough up until they scored, that’s disappointing given the play we had.

“It was one-way traffic and it felt like that on the pitch, it felt like a matter of time. We were putting them under pressure, but they did defend the box well, putting bodies in front of the ball but this is a blow for us. Coming away from today with no points having played like that is a blow.”

United’s attention will now turn to next weekend’s Barclays Premier League encounter with Sunderland at Old Trafford, a match that Rooney describes as a must-win.

“We do have to hit back next week, there are still a lot of games to go and we have to bounce back from this quickly, go on another good run and try to keep us in a good position to finish in that top four,” he concluded.