Manchester United’s poor run of form away from home in the Premier League continued today, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men losing 2-0 at Vicarage Road to bottom side Watford.
Watford looked the better team for large parts of the first-half, but a clear lack of confidence in the final third stopped Nigel Pearson’s men from making the best of some promising situations.
It would be Manchester United who created the best chance of the opening period, but England international Jesse Lingard continued his barren run in front of goal, scooping over Ben Foster and the crossbar when played through one-on-one.
Watford’s toils in front of goal would soon change early in the second period though, when United ‘keeper David De Gea allowed a tamely hit Ismaila Sarr volley squirm through his grasp and into the net.
The Hornets would soon be on their way to just their second Premier League victory of the season moments later, when Aaron Wan-Bissaka scathed down Sarr in the area, and Watford skipper Troy Deeney powered home the spot-kick.
Solskjaer reacted by bringing on Mason Greenwood and Paul Pogba, but despite a lot of huffing and puffing the Red Devils never really looked like being able to halt their slide towards yet another away defeat.
Speaking after the game United boss Solskjaer lamented his sides slow start, and honestly admitted his side were nowhere near good enough to get anything from the game.
“We started the game slow,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports.
”The first half was very, very poor from both sides and when you concede two goals like we did in quick succession with their two shots on target we gave ourselves too much to do.
“We had been doing well but you have to earn every single point in this league. It was too slow, it was like a testimonial in the first half from both teams.”
The Norweigan coach refused to place any blame on De Gea for his role in Watford’s opener, and called on his side to improve ahead of the festive fixture list.
“It was a mistake, it happens in football and it is what we train for every day to make sure they don’t happen again. David has been very good lately, it is just one of those things that happen.
“You have to earn every point on the pitch and today we didn’t deserve that. I can talk about it all day long. We have to face the fact we have two games coming up that we have to improve on.”
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