Nigel Pearson secured his first win as Watford manager, and just the club’s second of the Premier League season, as they saw off a disappointing Manchester United 2-0 at Vicarage Road.
David De Gea dropped an almighty clanger to hand Ismaila Sarr the opener, and Troy Deeney ended a nine-month run without a league goal soon after as he converted a penalty to seal the win.
Just when United fans thought Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had turned a corner, the Red Devils turned in another limp and lacklustre performance away from home – and Watford capitalised with two goals in four second half minutes doing the damage.
These coming from by far the league’s lowest scorers before the game, who had not been in front at home in the Premier League since April, meaning United have now gone 13 league games without a clean sheet and have endured their worst start in the competition’s history.
😳 Oh David De Gea...#MUFC #WATMUN pic.twitter.com/i5ADLzbTEm
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) December 22, 2019
There was hardly a note to be made in a first 45 minutes almost entirely devoid of any kind of action, with neither side able to trouble the goalkeepers with a shot on target.
Jesse Lingard should have scored when sent clean through on Ben Foster but, perhaps unsurprisingly for a player who has gone almost a year without a Premier League goal or assist, he fluffed his lines.
Lingard opted for a scoop over the on-rushing Foster but saw the ball, and United’s only chance of the half, go begging.
Just five minutes of the second half had gone when Watford burst into life, albeit thanks to a huge mistake from De Gea, who produced the most basic of errors when spilling a tame, spinning effort from Sarr.
The Spaniard seemed to fail to catch the ball as it looped harmlessly towards him, and it squirmed through his hands before bumbling into the net.
Just four minutes later and Watford doubled their lead thanks in part to Sarr again, who was brought down by Aaron Wan-Bissaka to give the Hornets a penalty. Despite not having scored a Premier League goal for nine months, Deeney did the honours emphatically.
Watford had a couple of further chances as United flapped, but the entrance of Pogba certainly lifted the visitors, and he himself was denied by Foster as he powered into the box.
The previously anonymous Anthony Martial almost scored after waltzing beyond three Watford defenders and United pressed hard for a way back into the game, but Watford stood firm.
Watford 2-0 Manchester United Opta stats
- Watford ended a run of 12 home Premier League matches without a win (D5 L7), with this their first win at Vicarage Road since a 4-1 win over Fulham in April.
- Manchester United suffered their heaviest Premier League defeat against a team starting the day bottom since April 2005, a 2-0 defeat to Norwich City.
- This was the first time Watford had won a Premier League game against a team starting the day in the top-eight of the division since October 2018, when they beat Wolves 2-0.
- Three of Manchester United’s last six Premier League defeats have been against teams starting the day in the relegation zone (also vs Cardiff in May and Newcastle in October).
- In the Premier League, Troy Deeney has scored a penalty for Watford against Manchester United at Vicarage Road in four of the last five seasons.
- Since saving a Leighton Baines penalty in October 2014, David de Gea has failed to save any of the last 15 penalties he has faced in the Premier League. Among goalkeepers to face 20, only Paul Robinson (6%) has saved a lower percentage than de Gea (8%, 2/25) in Premier League history.
- Man Utd’s Jesse Lingard has now gone over 25 hours without registering either a goal or assist in a Premier League game, last doing so in December 2018 against Huddersfield Town (one assist).
- Manchester United have won just one of their last 17 Premier League matches when they’ve had more possession than their opponents (W1 D8 L8), a 3-1 victory at Norwich City in October; they had 64% possession today.
