WAT IS GOING
Ranieri hails his ‘fantastic’ Hornets as they
CLAUDIO RANIERI hailed his Watford heroes after a simply stunning performance that plunged Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United deeper into turmoil.
They out-thought and out-fought their illustrious visitors for large parts and fully deserved the victory goals from Joshua King, Ismaila Sarr, Joao Pedro and Emmanuel Dennis earned them.
“It was a fantastic performance,” said the Italian.
“The first half was amazing. The second half we conceded chances, but we continued to press and we are very satisfied for the performance, the result and the three points.”
It was a crazy start and Watford had the chance to take the lead when Bruno Fernandes sliced an attempted volleyed clearance high to put his defence under pressure.
It dropped in the box and Scott Mctominay dragged down King as he tried to get to the ball.
Sarr saw his spot-kick saved by David de Gea before Kiko Femenia struck home the loose ball with a fine finish.
But the goal was ruled out and the penalty ordered to be retaken by referee Jon Moss after Femenia was punished for encroachment.
Sarr stepped up again and hit another poor penalty, which De Gea again kept out. The Spaniard’s saves appeared to be the platform upon which United could chase a victory they very much needed but Watford had other ideas.
And only the home side looked capable of scoring as time after time they pegged United back.
The breakthrough finally came just before the half-hour when Aaron Wan-bissaka only headed out Femenia’s deep cross to Dennis and his low ball back in was turned home by King.
Ex-united striker King missed a good chance to make it two soon after as Harry Maguire stopped him getting a shot off when well placed.
But Watford did double their advantage shortly before the break when Sarr finally got his goal. Donny van de Beek and Anthony
Martial were introduced at halftime for Mctominay and Marcus Rashford, and the Dutchman quickly pulled United back into the game, tapping in from close range after Cristiano Ronaldo’s header back to him.
Watford were indebted to Ben Foster for a couple of saves, one in particular from Van de Beek, but De Gea also had to keep out King as he raced clear from the halfway line.
United were just beginning to threaten when captain Maguire was dismissed for two bookable offences in the space of six minutes, the second for a foul on the very impressive Tom Cleverley who, like Foster and King, was another former United man who had a storming game.
Watford were beginning to sense they would be able to hold on when an opportunity to kill the game resented itself in stoppage time and substitute Pedro obliged.
And when Dennis made it four shortly after, it put the tin hat on a magical day for Ranieri and Co.
The Watford boss added: “All my players played very well, and I’m very happy with Sarr because after the penalty misses he scored the goal. We were so concentrated, and our application was good, it was fantastic.
“I said to them we have to press high up so they kick long balls and we are ready to fight in behind.”
Ranieri has experienced many highs in football but enough lows as well to sympathise with Solskjaer’s plight, and he urged United’s board not to be hasty with any decision.
“Ole must be calm, the chairman must be calm because football is up and down,” he said.
“He must have the time to build his actions and his team.”
That isn’t Ranieri’s concern now, though, he can just content himself with a real signal of intent from his men that they will drive up the table.