Manchester United defeated Swansea City 2-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Captain Wayne Rooney broke a two-and-a-half month scoring drought in the Premier League to become the competition's second highest scorer of all-time behind Alan Shearer.
United opened the scoring in the 47th minute when Anthony Martial got on the end of Ashley Young's right-wing cross to nod home past Lukasz Fabianski before Gylfi Sigurdsson looped a header of his own over David De Gea and into the back of the net for Swansea's equaliser 20 minutes from time.
Seven minutes later, Rooney grabbed his 188th Premier League and 238th United goal when producing a clever backheel from Martial's low cross to give Louis van Gaal's a much-needed victory over Alan Curtis' improved Welsh side.
The win sees United remain in fifth position as the Swans stayed in 17th, two points clear of the relegation zone.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Manchester United: 2 (Anthony Martial 47', Wayne Rooney 77')
Swansea City: 1 (Gylfi Sigurdsson 70')
Old Trafford, Manchester - 75,415
TALKING POINTS
- Is that the goal Rooney needs to rediscover his old touch? And is that the win that can be the catalyst for the second half of United's season?
- Swansea continuing to improve but just came up short in the end. Will Curtis stay in charge and see them clear of the drop zone?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Man Utd are at home to Sheffield United in the FA Cup 3rd round on the weekend before their league trip to Newcastle United on Tuesday.
Swansea are at Oxford United in the cup prior to a home meeting in the league with Sunderland next Wednesday.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Great start to the year #mufcpic.twitter.com/FNHwGfd2Gu
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) January 2, 2016Best way to start the new year! Great goals by @AnthonyMartial and that backheel by @WayneRooney ... @ManUtdpic.twitter.com/Ocd8tQrCRy
— Juan Mata García (@juanmata8) January 2, 2016REACTION: @LukaszFabianski thought he'd saved a point for #Swans in injury time - https://t.co/BAq0dhQXxYpic.twitter.com/zNEKMDuCmp
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) January 2, 2016
QUOTES CORNER
Man Utd's van Gaal on the scoring achievement of Rooney:
"It is amazing and that on the age of 30 years.
"Now we are playing much more matches but still it is an achievement.
"For me, it is more important he scores today. I hope it is a fantastic starting point for the team and for him."
Swansea boss Curtis on the near-miss that was keeper Fabianski's headed attempt at the death:
"It looked close. He reckons it was from the edge of the box when he headed it.
"When you equalise so late in a game you are hoping we could hang on, but it wasn't to be."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
188 - Wayne Rooney is now the outright second top goalscorer in Premier League history (188 goals), behind Alan Shearer (260). Wait.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 2, 2016238 - Wayne Rooney is also now the outright second top goalscorer in Manchester United history (238 goals). Devil.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 2, 2016