Tag Archives: Manchester United

26th February 2022- Premier League, Manchester United 0 Watford 0

Attendance: 73,152

BBC Sport: The Red Devils dropped two more points in their quest for a Champions League place and left the field to boos after being frustrated by the lowly visitors, despite dominating at Old Trafford.

Sky Sports: In a poignant moment before a ball had been kicked, both sets of players, led by United interim boss Ralf Rangnick, displayed a sign calling for peace following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Guardian: In added time, Sarr nearly performed a late smash-and-grab but his 30-yard shot sailed wide.

BHappy: There’s no knocking a draw at Old Trafford. As at Villa – before one point became three – there’s the suspicion that it’s not quite enough but a third League point at this venue and the first since November 1985 is not to be taken lightly. As for what comes next… it should be stating the obvious that our home form is the biggest obstacle to our escape since there are still plenty of games to be played and plenty of bad teams within reach.

20th November 2021- Premier League, Watford 4 Manchester United 1

WFC.Net Jon Marks Goal Commentary: 1 2 3 4

BBC Sport: Harry Maguire was sent off as beleaguered Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suffered more misery in an emphatic defeat at Watford.

Sky Sports: United could easily have been behind inside six minutes after Scott McTominay’s clumsy foul on Josh King gave Watford an early penalty, but Kiko Femenia’s goal on the rebound from Ismaila Sarr’s saved spot-kick was ruled out for encroachment, and Sarr was again denied by De Gea from the retake.

BHappy: You don’t get to fail to convert a penalty once against United let alone twice and still expect it to be your day. They were poor, poor penalties too and Isma’s longevity in this role has to be questioned. The second had been necessitated after Kiko encroached before joyfully converting the rebound off the first, the inevitability of celebrations being terminated clear as soon as the exemplary Jonathan Moss put his finger to his ear. As United cleared the rebound off the second we exhaled and waited for the sucker punch.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The Hornets took the lead just before the half hour mark, an attempted clearance by Wan-Bissaka dropped to Dennis who cut the ball back for King whose shot beat De Gea to send the Watford faithful wild. It was a lead that the Hornets thoroughly deserved. The Vicarage Road faithful greeted the goal with an ironic chorus of “Ole’s at the Wheel.”

The Guardian:In a rare moment of note at the other end Foster repelled a half-volley from Marcus Rashford, who joined McTominay in departing halfway through. But Watford, spurred by the surges of Moussa Sissoko and cleverly prompted by the young midfielder Imran Louza, could have scored at least once more before Sarr exploited acres of space on the right of the box to arrow a thrilling finish into the far corner. De Gea will be vexed that Pedro, a substitute, shot through him but was beaten more comprehensively from an angle by the superb Dennis. Watford departed to cheers and a sense that, having lifted them four points clear of the relegation zone, Claudio Ranieri is capable of keeping them up.

9th January 2021- FA Cup Third Round, Manchester United 1 Watford 0

BBC Sport: Scott McTominay’s fourth-minute header was enough to give Manchester United an unconvincing victory in their FA Cup third-round tie against Watford on Saturday.

The Guardian: McTominay headed into the ground, the ball bounced and spun away from Watford’s goalkeeper, Daniel Bachmann, and went in off the left post.

BHappy: The game ends with Hornets heads held high and yet no real suggestion that the course of the evening was about to change at any point beyond the fifth minute. A cynic might say that, in the circumstances, honourable defeat which doesn’t mash our confidence but doesn’t add fixtures to an already congested January and February is a very decent outcome. There’s truth in this, but we wouldn’t have had any reservations had we pulled it out of the bag.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%9321_FA_Cup

23rd February 2020- Premier League, Manchester United 3 Watford 0

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Attendance: 73,347

Match Report: Man Utd 3-0 Watford

Pearson: “We Didn’t Take Our Chances”Foster: “We Have To Keep Our Heads Up”

Watford face Manchester United away at Old Trafford

Watford remain in bottom three after Manchester United defeat

Nigel Pearson reflects on Watford’s missed chances after Manchester United defeat

Nigel Pearson admits Ismaila Sarr was ‘nowhere near’ close to starting Watford’s defeat at Manchester United

Watford players rated following bad day at Manchester United

Will Hughes thinks VAR decision was the turning point in Watford’s defeat to Manchester United

Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo said it was ‘special’ to hear the Watford fans sing his name

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster critical of handball law after Troy Deeney goal is disallowed at Manchester United

January signing Fernandes capped a man-of-the-match performance in style with his first goal for the club, nonchalantly converting a penalty he had won after being fouled by Ben Foster shortly before half-time.

Anthony Martial scored an excellent second on Sunday after Watford’s Troy Deeney had a goal ruled out by VAR for handball in the build-up. Mason Greenwood, 18, lashed home his 11th of the season 15 minutes from time to complete United’s scoring.

A dreadful mix-up between Maguire and Nemanja Matic in the third minute had sent Troy Deeney through, but the Watford striker took one touch too many when the ball was crying out to be smacked or laid off to Will Hughes.

United are flaky in defence because of the gap often allowed between rearguard and midfield. Sensing this, Roberto Pereyra skated forward and found Gerard Deulofeu to the left, he passed to the unmarked Abdoulaye Doucouré and the home team were lucky he could not finish.

The final whistle went on a comprehensive defeat for the Hornets. Unlike the Brighton game, I did applaud the players off and there was a surprisingly good atmosphere among the travelling Hornets. The Masina-Tequila song was getting a late airing, but the volume increased considerably with a rendition of “Ighalo-oh” for old times’ sake. Odion seemed to appreciate the gesture as he turned and applauded the Watford fans.

Fun away trips can often be ruined by 90 minutes of football and a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford was certainly a let down. Jon, Jason and DCW talk through the faults and frustrations and really, really try to find some good to take us through to the final 10 games of the season.

22nd December 2019- Premier League, Watford 2 Manchester United 0

Referee: Lee Mason
Attendance: 21,488

1-0

2-0

Match Report: Watford 2-0 Man Utd

Watford pick up first home win of the season against Manchester United

Watford beat Manchester United to claim first home league win of season

Nigel Pearson hails Watford’s work ethic in Manchester United victory

Nigel Pearson say he is “very confident” that his Watford team can avoid relegation from the Premier League after they collected just their second win of the season against Manchester United at Vicarage Road.

Watford needed win before Christmas – Pearson

We didn’t deserve to beat Watford – Solskjaer

David de Gea’s poor form lurched from bad to worse as his goalkeeping howler helped Watford secure a 2-0 win over Manchester United at Vicarage Road.

Five minutes of the second half had been played when Watford were presented with a free-kick by the right touchline. Will Hughes swung the set piece into the area and, following a flick-on, the ball landed at the feet of Sarr. He hit a shot and, as had been the case at Anfield, it was poorly executed on the part of the 21-year-old Senegalese. De Gea seemed set for an easy catch at his near post but instead the ball squirmed through the Spaniard’s hands like a bar of soap and dropped into the net.

Minute by minute

De Gea could do little about the second, scored by Deeney from the penalty spot just three minutes later. Again it was Sarr causing problems, surging between two United defenders before he was cleaned out by the sliding Wan-Bissaka. There could be no doubt about the decision and Deeney calmly struck his first goal of an injury-ravaged season.

The first half is tight and scruffy, and United get the better of the chances through Martial, who slips a shot wide, and Lingard, who is played through when a worryingly simple ball over the top peels us open. His lob is too high. Perhaps that was a break for Nige, the break that Quique didn’t get when Craig Dawson didn’t score his late header against Sheffield United. But we look tough and emboldened and up for this, and if the lingering concern is that we still aren’t creating an awful lot then that kicking of opponents up in the air mentioned previously, abetted by a tolerant performance by Lee Mason, is providing entertainment value.

Six minutes into the second half and, suddenly, all was right with the world again. A free kick from Hughes was met by Sarr who tried to hit the top corner, de Gea looked to have it covered, but the ball went through his hands and hit the net, sending the Rookery into raptures, apart from two rather gloomy blokes sitting just behind me. The visitors had an immediate chance to break back, but the header from McTominay was straight at Ben Foster. Instead, a foray by Sarr into the United box was stopped by Wan-Bissaka and the referee pointed to the spot. It appeared to be a nailed-on penalty, but I was still holding my breath while the VAR check went on. “Decision Penalty” had to be the best news of the afternoon.

The Perfect Christmas Present

West Ham United v Liverpool to be played at a later date due to Liverpool’s participation in the Club World Cup.

30th March 2019- Premier League, Manchester United 2 Watford 1

Referee:
Stuart Attwell
Attendance:
74,543

Goal 1

Doucouré: “We Dominated”

Match Report: Manchester United 2-1 Watford

Gracia: “It’s Difficult To Explain”

Deeney: “We Controlled The Game”

Foster: “We Need To Believe In Ourselves More”

Highlights: Manchester United 2-1 Watford

Watford score late goal against Manchester United, but can’t prevent the defeat

Fine Watford display ends with harsh Manchester United defeat

Manchester United vs Watford: Javi Gracia believes defeat was due to details

Watford players’ performances rated after Manchester United defeat

A selection of images from Watford’s narrow Manchester United defeat

Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defends Watford after ‘disrespectful’ comments by journalist

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster said the team are not afraid of facing anyone

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first game in permanent charge of United was far from comfortable as Watford dominated for large periods and had 20 shots compared to eight from the home side.

The victory was harsh on the visitors, who dominated possession for long periods and had superior chances, but it lifts United into fourth place above Arsenal, who play on Monday.

United certainly do the counter punch well, and the game’s highlight was a sublime pass from Shaw for Rashford’s goal, but Watford had 20 shots all told and as many on target – eight – as their opponents had efforts at all.

“It is difficult to explain because I think we had a good performance,” said Gracia.

We were absolutely fabulous, to a man and from the very off. Not least the “reserves” at the back; Janmaat, only arguably a downgrade on Kiko in any case, and the dogged, focused Adam Masina in comfortably the best I’ve seen him in a Watford shirt rampaged up the wings. Miguel Britos has been unfairly demonised over the last twelve months, splendid that if he is to return to Uruguay in the summer as trailed it’ll be on the back of thoroughly solid, competent displays like this. And Christian Kabasele… he’s good at the stuff he’s good at, the brainfarts are what lets him down there was none of that today. Aggressive, disciplined defending, as aggressive in fact as any situation permitted, often quite enjoyably so.

Despite their disappointment at the defeat, the travelling Hornets roared their appreciation of the team’s performance with the songs reaching a crescendo as Gracia came over to applaud the crowd. It had been a tremendous performance by the Watford lads. It isn’t often that you play away against one of the top six and find the home team playing a defensive game hoping to score on the break. The Watford midfield ran the game and, in a season in which Capoue and Doucouré have excelled on a weekly basis, it was great to see Hughes put in a superb performance.

https://audioboom.com/posts/7218044-the-best-team-lost-9-44