LEAGUE CUP LINGARD OF HONOUR

England star’s double keeps Jose on track for Wembley

JOSE MOURINHO has bigger targets this season than retaining the League Cup.

And there are bigger games coming up than last night’s, starting with Tottenham on Saturday.

But after a super start to the campaign, Manchester United’s momentum had stalled following the Anfield bore draw and their first defeat, at Huddersfield, which highlighted disharmony on and off the pitch.

Mourinho needed a win – and achieved his aim without dramas or discord with a mix-and-match team inspired by Jesse Lingard.

The Old Trafford boss will now be looking for more business as usual against Spurs, Benfica and Chelsea in the next three games.

There will certainly be tougher tests than that posed by an insipid Swansea, who can now concentrate on Premier League survival.

Mourinho kept only four players from the Huddersfield horror show with Victor Lindelof, at fault for the second goal against the Terriers, and Ander Herrera among those sent out for a double shift.

Herrera had infuriated his boss with his post-match comments at the John Smith’s Stadium over his team’s “lack of passion” – and got an early ear-bashing from Mourinho from the touchline last night.

But he started to make amends by beginning the move for the opening goal after 21 minutes. His slick pass found Marcus Rashford, whose neat flick ripped open the Swans rearguard allowing Lingard to run through and finish in style.

This time it was Paul Clement’s turn to show his frustration at his defence. The Swansea boss made eight changes to team beaten by Leicester, with Renato Sanches missing with a thigh injury.

But the closest the club which won this competition in 2013 came in their lacklustre first-half was when Daley Blind’s attempt to head clear bounced off City’s Oliver Mcburnie and just wide.

A disappointing tie was settled just before the hour with another simple goal. Axel Tuanzebe burst forward from the left side of the three-man defence and fed Matteo Darmian. The Italian’s cross was neatly headed home from 12 yards out by an unmarked Lingard.

Lingard could have completed his hat-trick five minutes later but pulled a cross-shot wide with Rashford lurking for the tap-in.

With his side two up, Mourinho threw on Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic.

Tuanzebe shot over after Kristoffer Nordfeldt parried Chris Smalling’s header from a corner.

Not until the late introduction of Tammy Abraham did Swansea start to offer a threat, his shot forcing Sergio Romero to tip over for his first save of the game – after 74 minutes. The keeper made another fine stop from

Leroy Fer in injury time.

HE’S JESSE THE JOB Lingard slides home the first goal before adding a second to lift Jose Mourinho