Hard Fought Win

I remember the last time Manchester United played against Watford. It was the second game of the season after United had started the season very impressively by trashing Fulham 5-1. United beat Watford narrowly then and needed a late goal to seal the win. It was a hard fought match. That season, United went on to win the title after three seasons without winning it. Watford vs Manchester United 2015 started with some serious concerns for United fans when it was revealed that Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial, Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini would join Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw on the sidelines through injury or in the case of Rooney, illness. The pre-match news left United looking bare and light in the forward department. James Wilson, was on paper, the only available centre forward in the senior squad that was fit but he lacked match fitness having just return from injury himself. My thoughts pre-game were on how United would line up and on the kind of start United would make to the match. I had stated my concerns in the past that United tend to start slowly in matches and especially away from home in England, it could leave United with a hill or a mountain to climb in matches.

United's line up saw Memphis Depay deployed as the lone forward supported by Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Jesse Lingard. Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger starting the match was a no-brainer especially after Carrick's unavailability and Louis Van Gaal had ascertained their mental condition after they were both involved in the international friendly featuring their respective countries on the day of the tragic terrorist attacks on Paris, one of which occurred just outside Stade de France where the match was taking place. Ashley Young kept his place at right back, Phil Jones was brought back into the side to partner Chris Smalling in centre defence, a partnership that I feel is the strongest for United. Daley Blind played left back in place of Marcos Rojo, who was the only member of the squad that travelled the furthest over the international weekend. After the rendition of France's national anthem, La Marseillaise which was played to show support and solidarity for the French, the match started. I noticed from the start that the ball wasn't travelling as naturally as possible as the strong winds played tricks with its trajectory. However, United started brightly, dominated and got a deserved early goal. Ander Herrera's early ball into the box was met first time by Memphis who side footed United into the lead. United had some half chances to take the lead but didn't take them. Watford were hardly in the match but their first real chance of the match was created after Young was dispossessed by Etienne Capoue in the Watford half to launch a 2 vs 1 counter attack but it was not capitalised by the home side after Odion Ighalo was shepherded away from goal by the re-tracking Schweinsteiger and he shot wide.

United had to deal with the lost of Ander Herrera in the first half due to injury and I was surprised that Van Gaal chose to bring on Rojo and revert to 3 at the back. I would have thought that Andreas Pereira for Herrera would have been a straight swap and a better option since United were already in control of the match and showed vibrancy in the attacking third with the present set up and formation. In the second half, United started brightly again and had a great chance to score a second but Lingard was denied by Heurelho Gomes. From the 60th minute mark onwards, Watford started creating more chances and had more shots on goal. United were comfortable in possession and in protecting their lead. David De Gea had shots to save but nothing out of the ordinary until a shot by a Almen Abdi was deflected by Chris Smalling and heading into the bottom corner if not for a great save by De Gea. Lingard had another great chance to wrap the game up but his lobbed effort lacked the elevation to beat Gomes in goal. Five minutes after, Rojo made a silly tackle in the box to give away a penalty that was converted by Watford's captain, Troy Deeney. Watford would argue that they deserved the equaliser but from a United perspective, it was a frustrating goal to concede as it meant that United now risked dropping two points after all the chances and half chances created.

The response to losing their lead was commendable and reminiscent of United of old. Chris Smalling had an effort saved from a corner and from the subsequent corner, United worked out a move that saw Lingard's effort parried by Gomes but Schweinsteiger reacted quickly to the rebound and diverted it goal wards but had a huge stroke of luck as his effort was bundled across the line by the unlucky Deeney. Overall, United should have scored more than one earlier in the match and wrap it up but as Sir Alex used to say, United always likes to make things difficult for themselves. The response to losing their lead was heartening. We have not seen a response like that in a long time from United. League titles are won on the back of such hard fought, come from behind wins. However, United would need to display this resilience and determination on a consistent basis if they are to be serious title contenders. United returned to the top temporarily after this win but have a greater concern to deal with, a growing injury list. Herrera and Jones were substituted due to injury today to join the other absentees in the treatment room. Hopefully, we can recover some of the absentees in time for the Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven or the next Premier League match against Leicester City.