Manchester United's first Premier League game without Sir Alex Ferguson in charge has produced a very familiar outcome.
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The Red Devils began life in the Premier League under David Moyes's stewardship by recording a 4-1 win at Swansea City to leave them top of the table at the end of an eventful opening day.
Last season's top goalscorer Robin van Persie was the star of the show, scoring twice, while Danny Welbeck also bagged a brace.
Swansea's record signing Wilfried Bony marked his league debut with a late goal, but his side were simply outclassed.
This was Moyes's big day, but the majority of the supporters packed inside the Liberty Stadium had not come to throw the Scot a party.
An intimidating and raucous atmosphere was created, and that hostility was replicated on the pitch.
The game was less than three minutes old when referee Phil Dowd delved into his top pocket and pulled out his first yellow card of the season.
The recipient was debutante Jose Alberto Canas, who had gone in high and late on Tom Cleverley.
United's first statement of attacking intent was issued on eight minutes when Phil Jones hit a floating volley that forced Michel Vorm to tip over.
Dowd showed another card seconds later, after Antonio Valencia had brutally barged Canas to the ground.
United should have taken the lead on the quarter hour. Van Persie sent Ryan Giggs through on goal, but, instead of shooting, the 39-year-old elected to square the ball to Welbeck, who was beaten to the pass by Angel Rangel.
Giggs spurned another good opportunity moments later as he fired wide from an acute angle after Welbeck's low shot had been parried by Vorm.
Swansea broke immediately and launched an attack that ended with the ball in the back of United's net. However, Michu's close-range tap-in was correctly ruled out for offside against Nathan Dyer.
The deadlock was broken legitimately on 34 minutes. Van Persie produced a brilliant piece of off-the-ball movement to get away from Chico, before latching onto Giggs's lofted pass and beating Vorm with a stunning bicycle kick.
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United's lead was doubled 118 seconds later when Welbeck tapped in at the far post following Valencia's low cross.
Bony was introduced at half time, but the Ivorian forward received infrequent service, with the majority of the action taking place at the other end.
Welbeck sent Van Persie clear on the hour, but the Dutchman could only fire an ambitious volley wide of Vorm's goal.
Wayne Rooney came off the bench with 28 minutes remaining, but, as seems to be his problem recently, he was upstaged by his Dutch colleague.
Moments after Patrice Evra had seen a goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Canas, Van Persie struck again with a wonderful long-range effort that left the result beyond doubt.
Bony displayed excellent composure to make it 3-1 eight minutes from time.
However, United fittingly had the final word as Welbeck lobbed Vorm in stoppage time to score his second of the night - one more than he managed during the entirety of last season.
Robert Summerscales
