{"id":12899,"date":"2019-12-23T10:08:49","date_gmt":"2019-12-23T07:08:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugmirror.com\/?p=12899"},"modified":"2019-12-23T10:08:52","modified_gmt":"2019-12-23T07:08:52","slug":"how-watford-humiliated-manchester-united","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ugmirror.com\/index.php\/2019\/12\/23\/how-watford-humiliated-manchester-united\/","title":{"rendered":"How Watford Humiliated Manchester United"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nigel\nPearson say he is “very confident” that his Watford team can avoid\nrelegation from the Premier League after they collected just their second win\nof the season against Manchester United at Vicarage Road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nHornets moved within six points of safety and level on points with Norwich in\n19th after defeating a dismal United side that remain eighth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We\nare in a difficult situation but I believe we can get out of it,” said new\nWatford boss Pearson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We\nneeded that very badly because it would have been difficult to go beyond\nChristmas without a win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I\nthought we did some good things, deserved to win the game and there is more to\ncome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“In\nthe situation we are in, we have do anything we can to win a game. The players\ncommitted to the game exceptionally well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’ll\nbe very confident we can get out of this situation.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watford\nwere helped on their way courtesy of David de Gea’s error for their opening\ngoal, with the Spanish keeper allowing Ismaila Sarr’s mishit shot to bounce\nthrough his arms and strike him in the face as it entered the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Troy\nDeeney compounded a miserable day for United as he registered his first league\ngoal since April with a penalty after Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s foul on Sarr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not\neven the introduction of Paul Pogba – returning after a near three-month\nabsence – as a substitute could raise United, who failed to register a shot on\ntarget until the hosts were already two goals ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And\nwhile Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side did attempt to chase the game, Watford also\nhad chances to add to their tally and deserved only their third league victory\never over United.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ponderous\nUnited punished again<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solskjaer\ncelebrated his first anniversary in charge of Manchester United on Thursday but\nwhile his first game in charge resulted in a thumping 5-1 victory at Cardiff,\nthis performance was the polar opposite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A\nrecurring complaint throughout the season has been United’s lack of midfield\ncreativity and the ability play through teams in the bottom half of the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And\nthis was another unimaginative and ponderous display, which was eventually\npunished by their resolute opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manchester\nUnited manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits his side were second best at Watford<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fred\nand Scott McTominay both struggled to impose any rhythm from midfield while\nDaniel James, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial failed to provide any spark in\nthe final third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lingard\nhas now gone over 25 hours since his last goal or assist in the Premier League,\nand notably missed United’s best opportunity of the afternoon, chipping over\nwhen one-versus-one with Ben Foster with the game goalless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And\nthat made it easy for Watford to follow the same template used by Crystal\nPalace, West Ham, Newcastle and Bournemouth in their victories over United\nwhile struggling towards the bottom of the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United’s\nbest performances have tended to arrive against teams where they have been able\nto launch quick counter-attacks, but as in their draw with Everton last week,\nWatford left little space in behind their back four and outworked their\nopponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hornets\nhave renewed hope<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since\nNigel Pearson’s appointment as Watford manager on 7 December, the Hornets have\ntaken four points from three fixtures, with their only defeat coming against\nrunaway leaders Liverpool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\ndisplay at Anfield, where they were narrowly beaten, showed a level of\ncommitment and endeavour rarely seen under former bosses Javi Gracia and Quique\nSanchez Flores this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And\nthis was very much a continuation of that effort, albeit against a side without\nthe same attacking finesse as the leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watford\nmanager Nigel Pearson says his side ‘very badly’ needed their 2-0 win over Man\nUtd<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aided\nby the return to full fitness of their talismanic forward Troy Deeney, who was\nstarting just his sixth game of the season after a knee injury, Watford made\nthis a scrappy affair and ultimately deserved their win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deeney\ncovered nearly a kilometre more than his United counterpart Martial as he made\nlife uncomfortable for the visiting defence and that was replicated all over\nthe pitch, with Pearson’s side running over 5km more than their opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\nhard work was also rewarded by a level of good fortune as they scored with the\nfirst two shots on target in the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\nvictory will provide renewed hope that they can follow Burnley, Swansea,\nSunderland and West Brom and survive in the Premier League having earned 12\npoints or fewer after 18 matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Man\nof the match – Ismaila Sarr (Watford)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ismaila\nSarr (right) was a constant thorn in Manchester United’s side, scoring and then\nwinning Watford’s penalty<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘We\nwere too slow’ – Solskjaer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manchester\nUnited manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, speaking to Match of the Day:<\/strong> “We\ndidn’t deserve to win the game by the way we played. We were too slow in\npossession, too slow without the ball, not enough intensity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We\ndidn’t have enough to get back. You have to be out there and ready. First half\nboth teams were slow. If you don’t take your chances you get punished. We\ndidn’t deserve it today. They took their chances. We didn’t take our chances.\nYou have to earn every inch, every chance.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On\nDavid De Gea’s mistake:<\/strong> “It’s one of those\nthings. He’s been so good in training and focused. One goal is a mistake and\nthe second is penalty. David’s been very confident lately and I don’t look at\nany other way.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On\nPaul Pogba’s comeback:<\/strong> “The big plus is Paul\ncoming on. And that’s the one plus. He added urgency, quality, some great\npasses. The boy has been working hard. He’s fit and leaner. He’ll bring us a\nlot. He is important for us. He makes us create more chances.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-the-spot\nDeeney – the stats<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n