Manchester United 2, Watford 1
SLOW START FOR MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United started slowly, and could have been behind to some inventive Watford attacks but the defence held firm.
Newly appointed permanent United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be more concerned by the fact that the Hornets produced twice as many shots on goal as United did, and with a more clinical striker in their side could have come away from the game with something.
MIDFIELD BATTLE
The full backs offered the width in this game but defenders were at the fore. It took a deep through ball from Luke Shaw to cut the Watford defence open while Marcus Rashford’s cut back from the goal line could have added a very Manchester City style second if Anthony Martial had been aware enough to attack the six yard box like Raheem Sterling.
Even Paul Pogba seemed static, and frustrated, going up against the organised Watford midfield.
ADDED PACE IN ATTACK
United injected extra pace in the second half with the introduction of Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard.
Lingard created the second goal for the Reds as they started to profit from wide attacks and cut backs from the touchline.
ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE
The French midfielder had an excellent game for Watford and capped his performance off with a goal for the visitors.
If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to add to his midfield roster in the summer he might have seen something he liked.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 2, Watford 1
David De Gea: 7. Clawed away an early header by Troy Deeney after a cross by Deulofeu from the right, hurt after Abdoulaye Doucoure trod on his foot. Also saved twice from Roberto Pereyra and Troy Deeney. Beaten by Doucoure late on.
Ashley Young: 7. Provided width and come up with some good crosses from the right.
Phil Jones: 7. Physical defensive performance from the ungainly defender who flattened Gerard Deulofeu in the first half.
Chris Smalling: 7. Had to be alert for Watford attacks, headed a Gerard Deulofeu free kick away.
Luke Shaw: 7. Good on the overlap and created the Marcus Rashford’s goal after a brilliant interception on the edge of his own area. Driving forward and putting Marcus Rashford clean through.
Ander Herrera: 6. Not much chance to go forward under Watford pressure.
Nemanja Matic: 6. Covered the defence well enough, sat in front of the back 4, but no attacking ambition.
Paul Pogba: 6. Not given enough options to pass, cut a frustrated figure in midfield.
Juan Mata: 6. Some neat moves but no end product.
Anthony Martial: 7. Could have had a penalty when he went down under challenge from Miguel Britos, was also denied by stout Watford defending but was slow to react to Rashford’s touchline cutback. Took his second half goal well.
Marcus Rashford: 7. Tormented the Watford defence with probing runs.
Jesse Lingard (for Juan Mata, 63): 7. Laid on Anthony Martial’s goal with a square pass along the 6 yard box, also tested Ben Foster with a shot.
Andreas Pereira (for Ander Herrera, 63): 6. More mobility for the midfield. Booked in injury time.
Marcos Rojo (for Anthony Martial, 77): Defensive substitution. No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester United 2, Watford 1
Man Utd 1, Watford 0: 28. Marcus Rashford rolled the ball home after Luke Shaw won the ball on the edge of his own area, drove forward and swung the ball in for the #mufc striker to finish from 20 yards. #watford #munwat
Man Utd 2, Watford 0: 72. Anthony Martial reacts to a goal mouth scramble to turn and stab the ball home after Jesse Lingard’s square ball found him in space 6 yards out.
Man Utd 2, Watford 1: 90. Abdoulaye Doucoure exchanged passes with Isaac Success after a cross from Robert Pereyra, and advanced into the area where he slotted past De Gea from 6 yards out.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 2, Watford 1
Man Utd: De Gea, Young, Jones, Smalling, Shaw, Herrera (Pereira 63), Matic, Pogba, Mata (Lingard 63), Martial (Rojo 77), Rashford
Man Utd Subs Not Used: Romero, Lukaku, Fred, Dalot
Booked: Pereira 90+2
Goals: Rashford 28, Martial 72
Watford: Foster, Janmaat (Feminia 56), Kasabele, Britos, Masina, Doucoure, Capoue, Hughes (Success 81), Pereyra, Deulofeu (Gray 73), Deeney
Watford Subs Not Used: Gomes, Cathcart, Quina, Holebas
Booked: Hughes 17 (foul on Paul Pogba), Masina 82 (blatant shirt pull on Marcus Rashford)
Goal: Doucoure 90
Attendance: 74,543