Hammers stung as Gracia defends Deeney antics
AFTER months of anger and argument and dithering, Manchester United took the Norway option. It works, well in football, it sure does. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed a dream start as the club’s caretaker manager as United rampaged to a fivestar victory.
The fans sang Solskjaer’s name constantly, and the Norwegian should take so much of the credit.
This triumph wasn’t just about players being liberated from the shackles and negativity of the previous Jose Mourhino regime; it was also about a football style demanded by the new boss.
His tactics were clear from the first whistle – and insistence on playing out from the back, passing through the pitch at pace, players with freedom to be fluid in their positions and ambitious and creative in their passing.
It was football with risk – and with fun. United’s players seemed delighted. They even out-ran the opposition team for the first time this season. Fancy that.
The goals came in a cascade, and each time Solskjaer pumped his arms in celebration as a wide smile lit up his face.
You could see a big happy grin from Paul Pogba too. Fancy that.
United made a picture perfect start with a goal after three minutes. Scriptwriters wouldn’t have dared do that, but nobody was telling the players cantering around the pitch like thoroughbreds freed from the stables.
Pogba was fouled 20 yards out by Aron Gunnarsson and Marcus Rashford took the free-kick sending a swerving shot, with a slight deflection, into goal past a flimsy wall and static keeper.
United fans immediately burst into a chant of ‘Ole, Ole Ole’, fully aware of the double joy involved. And Solskjaer said after the romp: “Football is easy if you’ve got good players. They are a great bunch of players and their quality is unbelievable.
“I arrived on Wednesday night and only had Thursday and Friday with the players. Wayne Rooney text me and gave me some advice - so it must be down to him! He told me to make them play football, enjoy themselves and be Manchester United.”
United fans had a second goal to cheer on the half-hour, with Pogba involved again as his cross-field pass found Ander Herrera in space which the Spaniard used to take an instant, long-range shot that flew into the top corner with the aid of another deflection off a defender.
The irony could not have been lost on former United manager Jose Mourinho, whose sacking was sealed when his team lost to Liverpool last weekend thanks to two goals from Xherdan Shaqiri that took deflections. Such is life in football.
Cardiff had been overwhelmed, with United enjoying 78 per cent of possession.
WATFORD boss Javi Gracia praised striker Troy Deeney despite his wild celebrations in front of West Ham fans after scoring a first-half penalty.
Deeney drove his team to their second win in a row after a barren run stretching back to October, and ended West Ham’s four-match winning streak
And Gracia said: “I like the way he plays and his commitment – all the things he does day by day. He is my captain and important player for us.”
Watford finally got their reward when Hammers defender Fabian Balbuena brought down Roberto Pereyra as he looked set to score.
Deeney stepped up to drill the ball But they were handed a glimmer of hope when Rashford was adjudged to have controlled the ball with his upper arm inside the box and a penalty was awarded.
Victor Camarasa lashed it into the top corner after 38 minutes.
The response from United illustrated their mood of freedom. Anthony Martial, given licence to roam, collected the ball in midfield and powered forward.
A swift passing movement with Pogba and Jesse Lingard (below) sent Martial free in the box and he scored with a cool finish. It was a stunning goal and a real symbol of change.
Pogba had made a slow start to the game after his recall by the new manager, betraying a few nerves as he gave away possession with careless passes. But as United grew in confidence, so did the World Cup winner.
There was no let-up from United after the break, and a fourth goal came on 56 minutes when Lingard was adjudged to have had his heels clipped as dribbled into the area.
A soft decision maybe, but Lingard drove in the spot-kick.
United chased more goals. Rashford shot inches wide when running into the box and Pogba saw a curling shot tipped over the bar.
Lingard eventually delivered the fifth goal in the final minute, rounding the keeper to steer home. The striker said: “The lads played with a lot of energy, enjoyment and excitement. When you’ve got confidence, you put yourselves in positions to score goals.”
The commitment to attacking football was plain enough and Solskjaer could hardly have done more to lift the mood at Manchester United.
Yes, the Norway option had their fans in raptures. They reckon it’s a good deal. Maybe the politicians arguing and dithering about Brexit should take heed. past Lukasz Fabianski from the spot. His reaction was to run towards a corner of the stadium filled only with home fans, execute a failed knee slide, pick himself up, punch the corner flag out of its fixing and then give the rival supporters some lip. He escaped a booking.
With the tensions rising, referee Lee Mason managed to miscount the steps for a wall after awarding a free-kick for Ogbonna’s tumble on the edge of the box.
West Ham were chasing a fifth win in a row, the first time they would have done that for nearly 13 years, but the footballing gods were not in the mood to blow bubbles.
Near miss followed bad miss.
Javier Hernandez had a shot pushed around the post, then after the break Michail Antonio headed a corner again a post, Arthur Masuaka’s long-range effort was saved by Ben Foster and Robert Snodgrass was denied by a last-ditch clearance.
Hernandez should have converted from close range and with time running out Foster made a brilliant save to deny Snodgrass and Antonio hit the bar. There was still time for Foster to tip substitute Andy Carroll’s effort over the top, before Watford gave the score line a totally lopsided look when Deulofeu and Pereyra played a neat interchange of passes for the Spaniard to score.
Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini said: “We were a bit unlucky not to at least draw.”
West Ham 0 Watford 2 Mike Allen