It was almost a throwback to the halycon days of the Ferguson years, as Bastian Schweinsteiger’s first league goal for the club in stoppage time handed United a much needed win against a resilient Watford side.
Wasteful United lucky to escape
With Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and James Wilson all unavailable, Louis van Gaal was forced to turn to Memphis Depay to lead the line. Memphis started in the best possible fashion as he made no mistake with Ander Herrera’s perfect cross to give United an early lead.
However, what should have been a straightforward afternoon turned out to be anything but. Watford dug in and the good chances that United did create too often came to nothing. Jesse Lingard, impressive in his energy, was particularly wasteful in front of goal and on another afternoon may well have cost United two points.
After his early goal, Memphis too drifted in and out of the game. However, his willingness to take defenders on and to shoot from range added a much needed dimension to a United attack that has looked stale and predictable at times this year.
The Red Devils were almost left to rue their wastefulness with their few genuine chances in front of goal, when Troy Deeney was awarded a penalty only moments before the expiration of the 90 minutes. The decision would have certainly been a talking point this week, were it not for Schweinstegier’s late heroics. While there appeared to be some contact between Deeney and Marcos Rojo as the big target man backed into him, it seemed on both first glance and replay a tough call.
However it was not to cost them in the end as the yet again superb Schweinsteiger calmly converted the winner from a tight angle. The energy and creativity displayed by United after the equaliser begs the question as to why that kind of tempo and purpose has not been on display for more of the season.
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