DEPAY’S PERFECT RETURN
Memphis solves striker shortage but United are still missing the X factor
NO Wayne Rooney. No Anthony Martial. No problem. Well, sort of. In the end Troy Deeney’s own goal secured victory for Manchester United just minutes after the Watford forward looked to have snatched a late point for the hosts.
But, once again, this was far from convincing. Lucky some might say.
United’s inconsistencies; particularly in the final third, were yet again laid bare as they toiled to break down gallant Watford.
And to add to Louis van Gaal’s problems; United left Vicarage Road with their already lengthy injury list added to as Ander Herrera and Phil Jones limped off.
The Old Trafford boss was at pains to defend his side’s style afterwards, saying: ‘I was very satisfied by our defensive organisation, we didn’t give more than three chances away. But our positional game was not so good today. Nevertheless, we created a lot of chances.’
Indeed, the United boss need only point to the Barclays Premier League table in the face of mounting criticism of United’s approach.
This result sent them ahead of Manchester City, who were playing Liverpool in the evening kick-off.
Perhaps things aren’t that bad at United; maybe we’re being too harsh on a squad with such a crippling injury list. But we’ve come to expect more. Their injury-time winner evoked memories of days gone by.
How many times did United snatch points at the death under Sir Alex Ferguson? That, though, is where the similarities ended as United were pushed all the way by a team who were playing in the Championship last season.
There was a vibrancy about United during the opening 10 minutes, a gusto that has eluded them for much of the season. They were rewarded in the 11th minute as Memphis Depay fired home a beautifully executed volley from Herrera’s pinpoint pass.
Having arrived amid major hype in the summer; Depay has largely flattered to deceive for United. The talent is there, though.
Trouble is never too far away for United, however, as Van Gaal’s injury list lengthened in the 25th minute when Herrera had to go off with a hamstring strain. He was replaced by Marcos Rojo as United reverted to a back three.
Yet, for all of United’s dominance, at least in terms of possession, Watford could leveled had Etienne Capoue shown greater composure with a half-volley from the edge of the box. Depay displayed further signs of improvement just before the break with a low drive from 20 yards that Heurelho Gomes tipped round the post.
Not for the first time this season, putting the ball in the back of the net was proving problematic for Van Gaal’s men. The Dutch manager could have done with the cushion, too, as Watford came out punching after the restart.
Deeney forced David de Gea into action in the 55th minute and four minutes later Morgan Schneiderlin blocked Odion Ighalo’s close-range effort after United failed to deal with Ben Watson’s corner.
Had Depay found the net with a nonchalant effort following a United counter; Van Gaal would have sat much more comfortably. United’s cause wasn’t helped by yet another injury — Jones coming off with an ankle problem in the 70th minute to be replaced by Paddy McNair.
A minute later De Gea came to his side’s rescue again with an excellent, one-handed stop to prevent Almen Abdi equalising after Chris Smalling brilliantly blocked Deeney’s attempt.
Had Ighalo’s piledriver from the edge of the box gone a yard either side of De Gea, Watford would have been celebrating in the 75th minute.
Jesse Lindgard should then have sealed victory for United in the 84th minute but his attempted lob from Daley Blind’s long pass was gobbled up by Gomes. The miss should have proved costly as Watford looked to have grabbed a point three minutes later.
Why Rojo felt it necessary to kick out at Ighalo in the box in the 85th minute was a mystery.
Referee Bobby Madley took his time about it but finally pointed to the spot before being swarmed by United players. There was no defending the Argentinian, though. Likewise, there was no defending Deeney’s spot-kick as he put Watford level.
The look on United players’ faces said it all — was their lack of potency going to cost them again?
Not this time. Gomes probably deserved a bit of luck when he parried Lindgard’s low strike.
He didn’t get it, though, as Bastian Schweinsteiger squeezed the ball in from the tightest of angles — courtesy of Deeney’s desperate attempt to prevent Watford heartbreak.