Manchester United 2-1 Watford: 3 takeaways from the match

Manchester United beat Watford 2-1 at Old Trafford to notch up their 15th win in 20 matches under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer yesterday. It was also their first match since the Norwegian was given a three-year contract as the United manager. United now have 61 points from 31 matches and are at the 4th position in the league table.

Watford, on the other hand, remained at the 10th position with 43 points from 31 matches. United had 52% ball-possession was were also very clinical in their approach as the Reds scored goals in either half of the match. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in the 28th minute of the match, and Anthony Martial increased the deficit in the 72nd minute.

Watford reduced the margin in the 90th minute through a strike by Abdoulaye Docoure, but it was not enough to avoid a defeat. We would now take a look at the 3 takeaways from the match:

#1. Luke Shaw made his presence felt

Shaw has been one of the most consistent players for United this season and has already played in 35 matches for them. Shaw has made the left-back position his own and has pushed the likes of Marcus Rojo and Matteo Darmian to the sidelines in the process. Shaw was again instrumental in both the goals scored by United yesterday.

United got their first goal through a wonderful counter-attacking move. Shaw won the ball near United’s penalty box with a solid interception, and played a delectable through ball to an advancing Rashford. Rashford got hold of the ball and made no mistake in slotting it home past the Watford goalkeeper. It was Rashford’s 13th goal of the season.

Shaw again proved his class with yet another foray into the opposition half in the minute. He carried the ball to the final third, and helped in creating the move that led to United’s second goal. Shaw had defended dourly in United’s 0-2 loss to Arsenal earlier this month, but yesterday he showed his attacking prowess.

The 23-year-old was quite probably the player of the match yesterday, and promises to have a long and successful career ahead with United.

#2. Some of the United players made a return from injury

United were at full-strength yesterday, as some of their players made their respective comebacks from injuries. Ander Herrera started in the midfield, and so did Anthony Martial and Juan Mata in the attack. United started with a 4-3-3 formation with Mata, Rashford, and Martial as their three forwards.

Mata looked quite fit, and also played some good passes to Rashford and Martial. However, he had to play as a false 9 at times and did not look quite comfortable while doing it. He should be more comfortable playing as a central attacking midfielder, but United would have to bench either Herrera or Nemanja Matic in order to accommodate him in their midfield.

Romelu Lukaku did not play yesterday, and United’s attack looked rather poor without him. Jesse Lingard, another player recovering from injury, came in for Mata in the second half, but could not make quite a difference.

#3. United’s defence remains a concern

United’s defence failed to have a clean sheet in yet another match, as Watford scored their only goal in the dying minutes of the match. Doucoure played a one-two with one of his teammates and breached through the United defence by running past at least four United players to score his 3rd goal of the season.

United’s backline looked somewhat jaded, as they could not prevent the goal. United started with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones in the central defence yesterday, and seemed to miss Victor Lindelof’s presence.

Smalling has become somewhat slower with age, and Jones struggled at times while defending in tight spaces. Solskjaer would have to do something in this regard, as United play Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final in less than 10 days’ time. In spite of their 15th win under the new coach, United’s defence remained a concern for their supporters.