RELIVE – Manchester United vs Watford: Marcus Rashford strike sinks Hornets
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Watford’s Christian Kabasele cleared for Belgium World Cup selection
Carrick, who was given a guard of honour as he walked onto the pitch with his children before the game, helped set up Marcus Rashford’s decisive goal against Watford.
Watford should have levelled on the stroke of half-time through Richarlison, but the Brazilian headed too close to United goalkeeper Sergio Romero from point-blank range.
Javi Gracia’s selection showed three changes to their previous game, as Heurelho Gomes, Gerard Deulofeu and Richarlison came in for Orestis Karnezis, Étienne Capoue and Troy Deeney. Despite the defeat his side finished 14th and the Spaniard indicated he will remain in place next season. “I think so,” Gracia said.
Watford briefly threatened when Daryl Janmaat cut inside and plonked a fine cross on the head of Richarlison but Sergio Romero tipped the forward’s header round a post.
The return of Gomes to the team meant that he would make his 100th Premier League appearance for the Hornets and would be wearing the captain’s armband as he did so. There was also much joy among the travelling fans when it was confirmed that Chalobah would be on the bench after so long out due to injury.
Watford put in a good display on the final day of the 2017/18 season, but were ultimately undone by a Rashford goal and the ‘Orns’ inability to score away from home.
clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals: 
Two first-half goals confirmed Watford’s Premier League status and gave them their first win since early March as they saw off Newcastle 2-1 on Saturday in the Premier League.
Watford got off to the best possible start when Pereyra ended his side’s run of three matches without a goal after just two minutes when he slotted home Abdoulaye Doucoure’s neat reverse pass. The Argentine then turned provider after 28 minutes as Gray nodded in his cross to score Watford’s second.
Watford should have turned around three goals to the good, only for the inspired Dubravka to deny Deeney both from the penalty spot and the rebound. Paul Dummett upended Gray in the box after an even foot race, only for Deeney to let the north east side off the hook.
Although there is nothing tangible left to play for with this result ensuring their survival, if Watford can pick up anything at Old Trafford on the last day, then they are likely to better their record highest Premier League finish of 13th, achieved two years ago.
At the point where you’re taking off both strikers to defend an end-of-season lead at home, you’re at risk of losing people altogether. Hell, maybe you’ve already lost quite a few of them. On such a beautiful day, it feels almost anti-social, like lighting a massive bonfire without warning the neighbours to take in their washing; it’s football dragged from the freezing wastelands of January.
That game was Watford’s season in microcosm. A first half in which we played some gorgeous football, were clearly the better team, but missed a penalty when we could have finished the game off. The second half was much more nervy as the players tired and, while they defended decently enough, allowed the visitors too much time in our half so my nerves were in shreds. Again, the opposition scored with their only shot on target. Thankfully, on this occasion, it only affected the goal difference.
Christian Kabasele picked up the Community Ambassador award before Abdoulaye Doucoure received Players’ Player and was encouraged to sing his song in front of the Rookery, in what was probably his last appearance at Vicarage Road.
Harry Kane scored in Tottenham’s routine 2-0 win over Watford to reopen their five-point cushion over Chelsea in the race for a top-four finish.
Spurs capitalised on an error from Hornets goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis as Christian Eriksen set up Alli and the England midfielder scored from 12 yards out. Kane doubled Spurs’ lead early in the second half from Kieran Trippier’s pull-back and Jan Vertonghen later headed against the post.
The game was played in a subdued atmosphere, with plenty of empty seats dotted around the ground, and Spurs were often there for the taking. There was a slight air of edginess about their play and Pochettino frowned at his team’s tentativeness in the final third, especially when Kane spurned a decent shooting opportunity with an awkward piece of control in the 12th minute. Watford sensed an opportunity to exploit that unease, showing inventiveness on the break, and Spurs’ defenders were relieved to see Hugo Lloris deny Andre Gray in the 25th minute.
It’s always a special occasion to watch Watford play at Wembley. It’s just nice to see us lose to someone other than Crystal Palace there for a change.
Wilfried Zaha saw two penalty claims turned down as Watford and Crystal Palace edged towards Premier League safety after playing out an eventful 0-0 on Saturday.
Last season, Watford mascot Harry the Hornet mocked Zaha by diving in front of him at the end of a league match at Vicarage Road.
Watford’s traditional poor springtime form meant they had gone five matches without a victory, conceding 15 goals in the process, so the decision to pair the Italy international Stefano Okaka in attack with Troy Deeney was a brave one with the former chairman Elton John, watching on from the stands. Yet it almost paid off as early as the fourth minute when Deeney found space on the right and his cross was headed against the crossbar by Okaka.
Key in the first half exchanges and throughout was the redoubtable partnership of the newly returned Christian Kabasele and the slightly less newly returned but much missed Craig Cathcart.
It had been a thoroughly entertaining half of football. Watford were a completely different team from last week, playing positively and battling for everything. We had managed 11 shots on goal, but without really testing Hennessey. The Watford fans were also putting in a good performance, loud and proud in support of their team, which was essential as Palace usually bring a very noisy crowd with them.
Whilst we go another game without a win, we did at least see a bit of fight and spirit and a much better performance than recent weeks. With safety all but confirmed that’s all we ask for during the run-in and we got that during this game.
Watford keeper Orestis Karnezis had been a virtual spectator before the goal, and his side perhaps deserved a point that would have eased any lingering fears the 12th-placed Hornets have of being dragged back into trouble.
Theoretically Javi Gracia’s men are not out of the relegation woods themselves but they started here as if convinced they were already safe in practical terms. A ridiculous five-minute spell from Roberto Pereyra summed up most of the first half. In the 27th minute he took their first corner and hit it straight out of play. Ninety seconds later he did exactly the same thing. And soon after that he was booked for diving.
It was the second time in three matches that Watford have lost points to goals in stoppage time, having conceded an equaliser against Bournemouth in time added. 
Huddersfield doesn’t look like Watford, feel like Watford, smell like Watford. For one thing it’s tentatively and occasionally gloriously sunny as we arrive, which is something that Watford hasn’t been on matchday for a while. For another it’s, like, hilly and that. Daughter 1 blinks away her sleepiness as we emerge from the car… “is this really Yorkshire?”, as if we were in Narnia or Magrathea.
It was another very frustrating afternoon for Watford fans. Our team had certainly been better in the second half, but it was hard to argue that we deserved anything out of the game. Huddersfield seemed to want it more, even if they did have only the one shot on target.
Watford were toothless, pathetic even. We had four shots the entire game and just two on target. The lone striker isn’t working anymore. Deeney can win aerial duels but then he has no one running onto his knockdowns. When he doesn’t win aerial duels however we have no back up, to have three strikers we haven’t been able to score consistently all season or in some cases be given the chance is incredibly frustrating.
