Swansea thrash QPR to give Michael Laudrup's tenure a brilliant start

Extremely early days it may be but it appears life after Brendan Rodgers is not going to be so terrible for Swansea City after all. Quite the opposite if this first game of the Michael Laudrup era is anything to go by; a resounding victory secured on the back of a stylish performance and one in which the club's new signings all impressed. A dream start for the man who was part of Barcelona's "Dream Team".

Laudrup is not the type to get carried away, but even he is sure to feel a surge of optimism following this win, Swansea's first on the opening day of a season in seven attempts. Of particular delight for the Dane is sure to be the contribution of Michu, the elegant Spanish midfielder who scored two of Swansea's five goals – the second a sublime first-time curling shot from the edge of the area. The 26-year-old was signed for £2m from Rayo Vallecano in the summer having scored 15 goals in La Liga last season, prompting many to wonder if he would go on to be the Premier League's bargain acquisition of the season. So far, so very good.

There was also impressive displays from the Spanish defender Chico Flores and the Dutch midfielder Jonathan de Guzman, both of whom also arrived in the close season. The performances of Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer also deserve mention, given the former played a key role in Swansea's opening three goals while the later, like Michu, scored twice. Scott Sinclair, on as a substitute, scored the fifth.

For Queens Park Rangers there was little to cheer about. Having survived relegation last season and brought in eight players, expectations were high, but, for the second season in a row, they have suffered a home mauling on the opening day of the campaign.

No one will be feeling worse than Rob Green who, making his debut following a move from West Ham, was at fault for the opening goal, allowing Michu's tame curling left-footed shot following Routledge's driving run to squirm past his grasp after eight minutes.

The comparisons with what happened to the goalkeeper during the last World Cup in South Africa was obvious, although the mistake that let Clint Dempsey score in England's opening game of the tournament against the United States was probably more horrendous.

QPR, to their credit, drove on and created enough chances before half-time to have taken the lead, most notably from another of Mark Hughes's summer signings, Junior Hoilett, who had a curling shot and a close-range header go just wide of the goal.

The hosts continued to dominate possession but Swansea remained composed and could have extended their lead when Flores and Michu struck the bar from close range.

Michu was not to be denied, however, and struck again on 53 minutes in some style following another Routledge run. Dyer got his first 10 minutes later after Clint Hill had failed to clear Routledge's through pass and the same player struck again on 71 minutes.

By that stage QPR were shellshocked, with their link-up play becoming increasingly ragged, and it was no surprise when Sinclair made it 5-0, the winger having come on to the sound of boos from the away supporters for expressing a desire to leave the club before the close of the transfer window.

Those same fans were cheering soon after, though. For QPR, much work needs to be done if they are not to avoid another hard slog of a season.

This article was written by Sachin Nakrani at Loftus Road, for The Observer on Saturday 18th August 2012 17.05 Europe/London