The sun shone, a gigantic banner sporting Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s face swirled in the Stretford End, and Manchester United claimed victory.
This was the perfect way to herald the Norwegian’s full-time appointment as manager and to respond to the last two defeats. It was hardly pretty: United were stuck in second gear, the goals coming some time apart, but as winning while underperforming is a yardstick of performance it was a satisfactory afternoon, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial the home scorers, with Abdoulaye Doucouré producing Watford’s late response.
“The first 20 minutes we started so slow and sloppy,” said Solskjær. “The second half we started sloppier but at 2-0 I thought we were in control but then they scored.”
Solskjær made four changes from the league defeat at Arsenal, drafting in David de Gea, Juan Mata, Martial and most notably Phil Jones for Victor Lindelöf, who was not injured but had “a few things to sort”, according to the manager.
He may have been alluding to death threats the Swede received for pulling out of his country’s recent internationals because his wife was expecting. She has since given birth.
Watford’s Javi Gracia brought in the same number: Troy Deeney, Gerard Deulofeu, Will Hughes and Étienne Capoue.
At the start, a slumbering United rearguard allowed Doucouré time to scuff a shot wide of De Gea’s right post, as Watford dominated the early exchanges, with Deeney the next to take aim.
A concerned Mike Phelan prowled the United technical area, though he will have been happier when Paul Pogba finally had United moving. His long, arcing pass put Rashford in behind and Watford had to scramble to clear.
When Martial went flying inside Daryl Janmaat the latter’s touch took the ball back to Ben Foster; United appealed for a back-pass but Stuart Attwell adjudged it inadvertent. The referee did the same when the influential Martial went down after Miguel Britos touched him in the area: the home crowd were indignant but it would have been harsh.
Now came the game’s supreme moment, from Luke Shaw. He dispossessed Deeney just outside United’s area and then he glanced up and sent a 30-yard pass precisely into Rashford’s path, removing Watford’s defence. From there, the centre-forward did the business, sliding the ball home.
Solskjær believes more is to come from Shaw. “I can’t wait to see him blossom,” he said.
Watford were shellshocked and had their keeper to thank for staying only one behind moments later. Martial was just about celebrating after his close-range effort when Foster’s reflexes saved the visitors.
Rashford had equalled his best of 13 in a league season and he soon had a chance for his 14th. He left Foster grounded but instead of pulling the trigger hit a misplaced pass; on the touchline, Phelan spun around in disappointment.
The second half started with a Gerard Deulofeu shot that De Gea gathered easily. At the other end Ashley Young’s pass to Martial was hit out for a corner and Watford subsequently escaped. Solskjær had switched his front three around, placing Mata in the No 9 berth, Rashford on the left and Martial on the right. United’s problem was in defence, though, where the second half was begun in soporific manner.
That allowed Janmaat and Roberto Pereyra to threaten, while Pogba was having an afternoon when he would lose the ball and remonstrate with himself rather than try to win it back.
After Gracia brought on Kiko Femenía for Janmaat, Solskjær introduced Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard for Ander Herrera and Mata. Initially, it made scant difference to a contest that had become Watford’s attack versus United’s defence.
Then the hosts finally came alive again – in part due to a comedy of Watford errors. Martial tried a one-two with Rashford and Britos failed to clear. When the ball broke back to the Frenchman from Lingard, Martial forced it past Foster.
Solskjær’s pre-game comments were all about how the hard work had begun now he had been confirmed as the permanent manager. This game was indeed attritional but despite Doucouré’s late strike they managed to win: always the bottom line in football.
“It is difficult to explain because I think we had a good performance,” said Gracia