Home Premier League Manchester United The honeymoon is over for Jose Mourinho as Red Devils lose again

The honeymoon is over for Jose Mourinho as Red Devils lose again

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Manchester United have tasted defeat for the third time in eight days after losing 3-1 at Watford today.

Goals from Etienne Capoue, substitute Juan Camilo Zuniga, and a Troy Deeney penalty meant Marcus Rashford’s strike was in vain.

Jose Mourinho’s side were beaten by Manchester City last Saturday, before another defeat to Feyenoord in the Europa League on Thursday.

And there seems to be a long road ahead for the Red Devils after this latest setback at Vicarage Road.

Mourinho made five changes to the side with Chris Smalling and Marcus Rashford selected for their first Premier League starts under the Portuguese boss.

One change for Watford saw Younes Kaboul (slight hamstring) missed out, with Sebastian Prödl taking his place in defence.

Before the game, a teaser was shown for ‘Football Manager 2017’, and Mourinho will be wishing this result was not saved to the memory banks.

Odion Ighalo missed a glorious chance to put Watford ahead, after a mix-up in the United defence put him through with an open goal. Sadly for him, he somehow screwed his shot wide.

A Daryl Janmaat cross found Deeney, but David De Gea reacted sharply to deny the Hornets forward. Zlatan Ibrahimovic then found the side netting as United finally created a decent chance.

Paul Pogba then finally showed a moment of class, something so lacking since his world-record transfer from Juventus. His shot from distance struck the top of the crossbar.

A moment of aggression from Miguel Britos, viciously winning the ball from Anthony Martial, set up Watford to take the lead on 32 minutes. His challenge saw the ball roll to Janmaat, who provided a pull-back for Capoue to find the net off De Gea for the midfielder’s fourth goal in his last five games. To make matters worse, the tackle forced Martial to come off, replaced by Ashley Young.

United were able to cultivate an equaliser early in the second-half. Ibrahimovic played a one-two with Rashford and chipped dangerously into the area. The ball fell to Rashford, who smacked a left-footed shot past Gomes to level the scores.

Ibrahimovic was denied by Gomes as United sought to take the lead. But with seven minutes to go, they fell behind. Zuniga, introduced only moments earlier, was found by Roberto Pereyra, and he duly swept beyond the grasp of De Gea,

The win for Watford was sealed in stoppage time from the penalty spot. Zuniga was fouled by a rash challenge from Marouane Fellaini. Deeney slotted home, and Watford had their first victory over United in thirty years.

 

By Steve Osborne                 @BlizzardSteve75

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