Saturday 21 November 2015

Watford Vs Man Utd

WATFORD 1 MANCHESTER UNITED
2
-Van Gaal hails never-say-die spirit
- Goal meant a lot to Bastian
- De Gea earns MOTM award
- Blog - relive our live match coverage
Scorers: Deeney (pen) 87; Memphis 11, Deeney o.g
90 | 21 November 2015 | Vicarage Road |
Attendance: 20,702
Despite a raft of injuries, picked up before and
during the visit to Watford, Manchester United
earned a dramatic 2-1 victory at Vicarage Road
with Memphis Depay scoring on his return to the
side and Bastian Schweinsteiger playing his part in
an injury-time winner.
In a game dominated by Louis van Gaal’s men in
the first half and controlled by the Hornets in the
second, Memphis's fine first-half goal and an own
goal from Troy Deeney, who had equalised for
Watford, secured a vital win and, at least
temporarily, took United top of the table. David De
Gea’s part in the win cannot be overlooked either
after a string of top saves from the Spanish
stopper.
Van Gaal made four changes to the side that
started the Reds' last match against West Brom,
with Phil Jones, Morgan Schneiderlin, Ander
Herrera and Memphis all coming in. They replaced
the injured pairing of Michael Carrick and Anthony
Martial, Wayne Rooney, who is ill, and Marcos Rojo,
who was named on the bench after a long journey
back from South America for international duty.
After recently including youngsters Axel Tuanzebe
and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson in his matchday
squad, van Gaal named two more prospects among
the substitutes - striker Marcus Rashford and
midfielder Sean Goss.
Another homegrown talent who has impressed so
much in recent weeks, Jesse Lingard, got United
on the attack from the off, and was inches away
from connecting with Juan Mata’s right-wing cross
with just a minute on the clock. And it wasn’t long
before the Reds took the lead.
The danger came down the right once more as
former Watford man Ashley Young found Ander
Herrera and his first-time cross was brilliantly
volleyed into the top corner by Memphis.
United were well in control of proceedings but
breathed a sigh of relief on 21 minutes when Young
had the ball taken off his toes by Etienne Capoue
who sprinted forward. Watford found themselves
with two against one as Capoue found Odion
Ighalo, but the striker shot wide.
The Reds lost Herrera to what looked like a
hamstring injury soon after, with Rojo coming on to
join Chris Smalling, captain for the day with Rooney
and Carrick both out, and Phil Jones in a makeshift
back three. Not long after coming on, Rojo sent a
ball into the box which bounced around before
eventually dropping to Schneiderlin who smashed a
volley just over the bar.
The French midfielder went close again just after
the half-hour mark when Bastian Schweinsteiger
flicked a corner across the box only for Troy
Deeney to acrobatically flick it away to prevent
Schneiderlin tapping home at the back post.
Memphis almost doubled his and United’s tally for
the day six minutes before the break when he took
aim from 25 yards, but Heurelho Gomes got down
well to push it clear.
HALF-TIME STATISTICS
Possession : Watford 40% United 60%
Shots at goal : Watford 2 United 4
Shots on target: Watford 0 United 2
Corners: Watford 1 United 4
Gomes was called into action straight after the
restart when Capoue presented Memphis with
possession in midfield. The goalscorer powered
forward and slipped a reverse pass in to Lingard
whose shot was well saved by the Watford keeper.
Thereafter, Watford took control with De Gea
needing to be on red alert on more than one
occasion. Four minutes before the hour mark,
Watford put together their best move of the game
as Deeney caught the ball brilliantly on the edge of
the box after being set up by Ighalo but De Gea
pushed it clear. The United goalkeeper then had
Schneiderlin to thank minutes later when he
blocked Ighalo’s effort from five yards out.
Watford continued to turn the screw and De Gea
made two superb stops in quick succession after
the Reds had lost Jones to what appeared to be
yet another injury. The Hornets got the ball into
the box and after it had pinged about, Almen Abdi
had a go but De Gea got down brilliantly to tip
away after it had deflected off Smalling. He then
palmed away the resulting corner from almost
inside his goal.
Lingard had a chance to seal the victory seven
minutes from time but wasn’t able to lob Gomes as
he advanced from goal. It looked to be a crucial
miss when Deeney levelled proceedings from
penalty spot after Rojo tripped Ignalo three minutes
from full-time. Referee Robert Madley took some
time before making the decision and Deeney made
no mistake by lashing past De Gea.
Yet, there was still more to drama to come in
injury-time. United piled on the pressure and, after
Gomes had saved spectacularly from Smalling, he
could only palm Lingard’s shot into the path of
Schweinsteiger who sent the ball back across goal
for it to be turned home by Deeney, as he tried to
scramble off the line. Cue wild celebrations from
the Reds and another important three points.
FULL-TIME STATISTICS
Possession : Watford 44% United 56%
Shots at goal : Watford 10 United 13
Shots on target: Watford 5 United 6
Corners: Watford 4 United 10
Watford : Gomes; Nyom (Paredes 68), Cathcart,
Britos, Anya; Capoue, Watson; Abdi, Jurado (Ake
46), Deeney (c); Ighalo.
Subs not used: Arlauskis, Oulare, Guedioura, Ibarbo,
Diamanti.
Booked: Watson
United: De Gea; Young, Jones (McNair 68),
Smalling, Blind; Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger; Mata
(Pereira 79), Herrera (Rojo 25), Lingard; Memphis.
Subs not used: Romero, Darmian, Goss, Rashford.
Booked: Young, Lingard
MAN OF THE MATCH
David De Gea once again played a crucial role in
securing the points for United with a host of top
saves at vital moments at Vicarage Road. He was
powerless to stop Troy Deeney's penalty, but he
romped the Man of the Match poll with 78% of the
votes, ahead of goalscorer Memphis and former
Watford player Ashley Young.
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Louis van Gaal : "I was amazed at the spirit in our
team. We had the late penalty but, as a team, we
created another three possibilities in five minutes
after that. When you can do that as a team, then I
am a very proud manager."
Bastian Schweinsteiger : "It would be nice if it was
my goal but I know that the Watford player touched
the ball so, for me, it doesn’t matter. We won the
three points and that’s the most important thing.
The goal meant a lot to me because these sorts of
games can make the difference at the end of the
season."
Memphis Depay: "I enjoyed the goal a lot, of
course. I like to score goals. It was important for
me to score a goal when I got a chance. I was
happy. It was a nice moment [to celebrate with the
fans]."
PLAYERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Ashley Young - @youngy18
Great being back at Vicarage Road today, thanks to
all the @WatfordFC fans for the warm welcome.
Big three points for us and team spirit. #mufc
David De Gea - @D_DeGea
If you fight until the end, you end up finding a
reward! C'mon @manutd.
Phil Jones - @PhilJones4
Very important 3 points today in a tough game. Big
game ahead at Old Trafford Wednesday night!
@ManUtd
Ander Herrera - @AnderHerrera
What a team spirit! 3 fantastic points, I hope the
injury is as small as possible.
Juan Mata - @juanmata8
Not the prettiest game, but 3 very important points
straight after the international break! @ManUtd
#teamspirit
Bastian Schweinsteiger - @BSchweinsteiger
What a dramatic end of this match. So happy about
our last-minute victory! #mufc
Marcos Rojo - @marcosrojo5
Happy with another victory! #ManUnited
#RojoIsRed
Wayne Rooney - @WayneRooney
Well done today lads big 3 points.
@BSchweinsteiger congrats on your 1st goal.
Rio Ferdinand - @rioferdy5
What a result for @ManUtd ....late winner...could
this be the catalyst to go on a major march
towards the title....??
Gary Neville - @GNev2
Yesssssssssssss get in!!!!

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