ALARM BELLS ARE RINGING FOR UNITED

Shambolic Reds turned up late then received a big wake-up call from the Hornets as De Gea and Wan-bissaka gave Solskjaer the Christmas blues

FIRST of all, Manchester United need to hope Father Christmas leaves an alarm clock in their stockings on Wednesday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his men rocked up to Vicarage Road half an hour late, and were given a wake-up call by Watford.

Their attitude was all wrong from the start.

How does an outfit the size of United keep turning up for football matches late? It was the first time under Solskjaer, but the latest of a number of occasions when one of the biggest clubs in the world has been sloppy with timekeeping.

And it spilled over into their play as United lived up to a newly-established reputation as a team that cannot be trusted. Gone were the heroes of wins at Manchester

City and at home to

Tottenham. Back came the white flag-wavers held at home by struggling Everton and Aston Villa, the defensively shambolic team beaten at Bournemouth, Newcastle and West Ham.

United, with Paul Pogba (below) back from injury, turned up expecting to win. Six minutes after half-time, David de Gea took his eye off the ball and allowed Ismaila Sarr’s tame shot to slip through his hands and into the net.

He slumped to the turf after surely the worst mistake of his career as the Hornets celebrated (left).

Seven minutes later Aaron Wan-bissaka, so often so dependable, scythed down Sarr to gift Watford a penalty.

Troy Deeney rammed it past De Gea. Watford, without a win at home in nine months, grew visibly in confidence. United retreated into their shell.

Defeat leaves the Reds with their lowest-ever points tally at this stage of a Premier League season, just 25. The club still have faith in Solskjaer but there must surely be a few dissenters in the boardroom convinced they should be giving Mauricio Pochettino a call.

United under Solskjaer are Big Time Charlies, pampered prima donnas who relish taking on the A-listers but still cannot mix it with the street fighters, the grafters, the sides fighting for their lives. This team could do with watching a few videos of the sides under Sir Alex Ferguson who turned up for work – early – whether it was Liverpool or the bottom team in the league.

They may bristle at the criticism, as if they are above it, but have no business pushing for a Champions League place when there are so many other clubs able to do it against the bottom six as well as the top six.

They head into Christmas eighth in the table – their lowest position at this stage of a season since 1989.

Watford will be hoping this is the start of a revival under Nigel Pearson. The former Leicester manager knows all about miracles having laid the foundations for the Foxes’ incredible title success.

The manner of this win, and the performance in defeat at Liverpool last week, suggests the only way is up now for the Hornets.

They move within six points of safety and level on points with Norwich in 19th.

But United need to take a long hard look in the mirror.