Watford 1-2 Manchester United: Troy Deeney's late own goal just minutes after equalising seals narrow win for Louis van Gaal's men

• Memphis Depay opened the scoring for Manchester United at Vicarage Road with a well-taken finish on 11 minutes
• Ander Herrera delivered superb cross in behind defence and Depay ran in unmarked to volley home emphatically 
• Herrera limped off in the first half with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and was replaced by Marcos Rojo  
• Watford were awarded a penalty late in second half when substitute Rojo was adjudged to have fouled Odion Ighalo
• Troy Deeney confidently stepped up and fired his spot-kick past David de Gea to level the scores at Vicarage Road
• But the Hornets striker went from hero to zero after he turned Bastian Schweinsteiger's cross into his own net

By Sami Mokbel for MailOnline

Published: 09:38 EST, 21 November 2015 | Updated: 04:07 EST, 22 November 2015

No Wayne Rooney. No Anthony Martial. No problem.

Well, sort of. In the end Troy Deeney's own-goal secured victory for Manchester United just minutes after the Watford forward looked to have snatched a late point for the hosts.

But, once again, this was far from convincing. Lucky some might say. United's inconsistencies; particularly in the final third, were yet again laid bare as they toiled to break down gallant Watford. 

Bastian Schweinsteiger (right) wheels away in celebration after his cross was turned into his own net by Watford striker Troy Deeney

Moments before, Deeney confidently stepped up and fired his spot-kick past David de Gea to level the scores at Vicarage Road

Manchester United goalkeeper De Gea celebrates after his team scored a late second-half winner to defeat Watford 2-1

Memphis Depay met Ander Herrera's superb delivery to open the scoring for Manchester United at Vicarage Road in the 11th minute

The Holland winger wheels away to celebrate his goal after shrugging off his marker to score his second Premier League goal

Depay, who has endured a slow start to his United career after arriving from PSV in the summer, is mobbed by his team-mates

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE FROM VICARAGE ROAD 

 

WATFORD (4-4-2): Gomes 6, Nyom 5 (Paredes 69, 6), Cathcart 6, Britos 6, Anya 6, Capoue 7.5, Watson 5.5, Abdi 6.5, Deeney 7, Jurado 4.5 (Ake 45, 6), Ighalo 6.5

Subs not used: Oulare, Guedioura, Ibarbo, Diamanti, Arlauskis

Goal: Deeney (pen) 87 

Booked: Watson

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 6.5, Young 7, Jones 7.5 (McNair 69, 6), Smalling 7, Blind 6, Schneiderlin 8.5, Schweinsteiger 7.5, Mata 6.5 (Pereira 79, 6), Herrera 6.5 (Rojo 25, 5.5), Lingard 7, Depay 8

Subs not used: Romero, Darmian, Rashford, Goss

Goal: Depay 11, Deeney OG 90

Booked: Young, Lingard

Referee: Robert Madley

Attendance: 20,702

MOM: Morgan Schneiderlin

Player ratings by Jack Gaughan  

Memphis Depay's first-half goal is shown using Sportsmail's brilliant Match Zone service. Click here for more from the clash at Vicarage road.

And to add to Louis van Gaal’s problems, United left Vicarage Road with their already lengthy injury list added to as Ander Herrera and Phil Jones limped off.

The Old Trafford boss was at pains to defend his side’s style afterwards, saying: ‘I was very satisfied by our defensive organisation, we didn’t give more than three chances away. But our positional game was not so good today. Nevertheless, we created a lot of chances.’

Indeed, Van Gaal need only point to the Barclays Premier League table in the face of mounting criticism of United’s approach.

This result sent them ahead of Manchester City, who lost against Liverpool in the evening kick-off.

Perhaps things aren’t that bad at United; maybe we’re being too harsh on a squad with such a crippling injury list. But we’ve come to expect more. Their injury-time winner evoked memories of days gone by.

How many times did United snatch points at the death under Sir Alex Ferguson? That, though, is where the similarities ended as United were pushed all the way by a team who were playing in the Championship last season.

Manchester United and Watford stood as one as the French national anthem was played ahead of kick-off at Vicarage Road

United and Watford players stood in centre circle facing the main stand while the choral version of the French national anthem was played

France's motto 'Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite' is projected on to an advertising board as football continues to show its support on Saturday

France international Morgan Schneiderlin (left), who started in midfield for Louis van Gaal's men, takes on his compatriot Etienne Capoue

Manchester United stand-in captain Chris Smalling (left) competes for the ball with Watford midfielder Ben Watson

Depay was alert inside the Watford penalty box and met Herrera's inch-perfect cross to score past Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes

There was a vibrancy about United during the opening 10 minutes, a gusto that has eluded them for much of the season. They were rewarded in the 11th minute as Memphis Depay fired home a beautifully executed volley from Herrera’s pinpoint pass.

Having arrived amid major hype in the summer, Depay has largely flattered to deceive for United. The talent is there, though.

Trouble is never too far away for United, however, as Van Gaal’s injury list lengthened in the 25th minute when Herrera had to go off with a hamstring strain. He was replaced by Marcos Rojo as United reverted to a back three.

Yet, for all of United’s dominance, at least in terms of possession, Watford could have levelled had Etienne Capoue shown greater composure with a half-volley from the edge of the box. Depay displayed further signs of improvement just before the break with a low drive from 20 yards that Heurelho Gomes tipped round the post.

Former Tottenham shot-stopper Gomes cuts a dejected figure after Depay was left unmarked to score past the Brazilian

The winger roars in delight after giving Louis van Gaal's Red Devils the lead against Watford in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off

United midfielder Herrera cuts a frustrated figure after pulling up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury in the first half

Herrera (centre), who assisted Depay for the opener, appeared to pick up a hamstring injury in the first half and was substituted

The former Athletic Bilbao midfielder receives medical treatment but was unable to continue and Marcos Rojo replaced the Spaniard 

Watford's summer signing Etienne Capoue gestures to his team-mates as the Hornets battle with United on Saturday afternoon

Not for the first time this season, putting the ball in the back of the net was proving problematic for Van Gaal’s men. The Dutch manager could have done with the cushion, too, as Watford came out punching after the restart.

Deeney forced David de Gea into action in the 55th minute and four minutes later Morgan Schneiderlin blocked Odion Ighalo’s close-range effort after United failed to deal with Ben Watson’s corner.

Had Depay found the net with a nonchalant effort following a United counter, Van Gaal would have sat much more comfortably. United’s cause wasn’t helped by yet another injury — Jones coming off with an ankle problem in the 70th minute to be replaced by Paddy McNair.

A minute later De Gea came to his side’s rescue again with an excellent, one-handed stop to prevent Almen Abdi equalising after Chris Smalling brilliantly blocked Deeney’s attempt.

Had Ighalo’s piledriver from the edge of the box gone a yard either side of De Gea, Watford would have been celebrating in the 75th minute.

Jesse Lingard should then have sealed victory for United in the 84th minute but his attempted lob from Daley Blind’s long pass was gobbled up by Gomes. The miss should have proved costly as Watford looked to have grabbed a point three minutes later.

Manchester United youngster Jesse Lingard was given another opportunity to impress by Louis van Gaal at Vicarage Road

Ashley Young is hunted down by Watford midfielder Almen Abdi as United compete with the Hornets in Saturday's top flight clash

United's Dutch defender Daley Blind slides in with a well-timed challenge as Watford winger Ikechi Anya avoids his opponent 

Lingard, who scored his first senior goal for United in the victory over West Brom two weeks ago, reacts after missing chance to score

England Under 21 star had great opportunity to double his side's lead in the second half but he shot straight at Gomes in Watford's goal

Why Rojo felt it necessary to kick out at Ighalo in the box in the 85th minute was a mystery.

Referee Bobby Madley took his time about it but finally pointed to the spot before being swarmed by United players. There was no defending the Argentinian, though. Likewise, there was no defending Deeney’s spot-kick as he put Watford level.

The look on United players’ faces said it all — was their lack of potency going to cost them again?

Not this time. Gomes probably deserved a bit of luck when he parried Lingard’s low strike.

He didn’t get it, though, as Bastian Schweinsteiger squeezed the ball in from the tightest of angles — courtesy of Deeney’s desperate attempt to prevent Watford heartbreak.

Depay is crowded out by Watford midfield pair Watson and Capoue as the Dutchman attempts to create an attack for Van Gaal's team

Watford were awarded a penalty late in second half when substitute Rojo was adjudged to have fouled Odion Ighalo - and Deeney scored

The Hornets skipper celebrates his goal after beating former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper De Gea from the penalty spot

But Deeney went from hero to zero after turning Schweinsteiger's hopeful cross into his own net late in the second half

The Watford players are left dejected at the full-time whistle after United earned a late victory over the hosts on Saturday afternoon

A supporter holds up a France flag during Manchester United's Premier League clash with Watford in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off

There was an increased police presence prior to kick-off and fans underwent strict searches before entering Vicarage Road

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