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Watford had already shown this season what they are capable of when they came from behind to beat Spurs last time out. They went into this game as one of three teams who has maintained a perfect start to the Premier League campaign. Vicarage Road hosted Jose Mourinho's Manchester United who has won their last game after suffering back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Spurs. United are already playing catchup to their Premier League rivals and cannot afford to lose points against the likes of Watford.
The first chance of the game fell to Romelu Lukaku after a beautiful ball by Sanchez, but the Belgian failed to control the ball first time which allowed Ben Foster to come out and collect. David De Gea was called into action when Troy Deeney hit a fierce shot from the edge of the box, but the United goalkeeper was up to his task. The time when Watford was looking to get back into the match, United hit them hard - first with Lukaku and then with Chris Smalling. Romelu instinctively reacted to Young's cross to give United the lead, and he was again the provider from a corner for Smalling who beautifully chested and volleyed the ball into the back of the net.
United had chances to increase the lead before the halftime. Foster denied Pogba once from a long-range effort and then from a point-blank range keeping the Hornets into the game. The sides went into the halftime break with United leading by two goals, and there was a swagger about them in that half.
Watford used the approach of direct football to get back into the game in the second half, and they were relying on set pieces to involve their big men in the game. But the United defense refused to budge under pressure especially Smalling who headed everything out of the way. Watford's efforts finally paid off when Andre Gray pulled one back for the hosts after Doucoure's ball across the box. United was looking a bit sloppy at that moment giving away easy passes, and the home side was going for the equalizer.
Manchester United had some late scares with De Gea making a brilliant save in the dying stage of the match, and Nemanja Matic sent off with a second booking. However, the Red Devils kept their slim lead until the final whistle to register back-to-back away victories and end Watford's 100 per cent winning run.
Here are the three talking points from the game.
#3 Watford failed short of creating a history
Watford was on the brink of creating a record of five straight wins in a row which would have been the first time in their history. But that was not meant to happen this season at least. United looked dominant in the first half taking a two-goal lead into the break but Watford came flying off the blocks in the second reducing United to just one short on goal in the second half.
There were desire and determination about Javi Gracia's side in the second half which saw them reduce the deficit to half, but they needed two more goals to create history which eluded them until the end. Despite losing, the fans must be proud of how the season began and if they continue playing like this, a European spot, next season could be on the horizon.
#2 Impressive performance by the midfield trio of United
Jose Mourinho rightly played Fellaini and Matic in the centre of the midfield to nullify the threat posed by Troy Deeney with his head. The physical nature of Watford's game was always going to trouble United's backline, but with Fellaini sitting in front of them, it gave an assurance to both Smalling and Lindelof at the back.
With Matic and Fellaini controlling the midfield, Pogba got a free license to attack, and he was denied twice by Ben Foster in the first half. Fellaini had a role to play in Smalling's goal for United's second. Matic's red card in the dying moment of the game was a bit of turn off for otherwise a flawless performance from the midfield trio.
#1 Room of comfort for Jose Mourinho
Every game is a must-win game for Jose Mourinho and Manchester United. After two defeats in the opening three games, the pressure was high to deliver for the United boss, and he certainly got a response out of his squad with two wins out of two.
Though the performances are far from best, still three points on the board are all that matters right now. For the time being, Jose will be spared from the media onslaught and would be speaking highly of the game. With Liverpool, Chelsea, City already running away from United, Jose Mourinho would not want to see the desire or the concentration drop a single bit in their upcoming matches, and hoping to carve out three points any way possible.
