Watford 1-2 Manchester United: Late Troy Deeney own goal hands visitors win

Troy Deeney's last-gasp own goal handed Manchester United a dramatic 2-1 win over Watford in Saturday's Premier League clash at Vicarage Road.

Deeney, attempting to keep the ball out on the goal-line, went from hero to villain inside five minutes as he turned Bastian Schweinsteiger's effort into his own net from an angle moments after equalising for Watford from the spot.

Memphis Depay scored United's opener in the 11th minute, turning home Ander Herrera's cross, before David de Gea pulled off a world-class save to deny Almen Abdi a leveller in the second half.

Watford equalised with three minutes remaining through Deeney's penalty after Odion Ighalo was brought down by Marcos Rojo - the first goal United had conceded in nearly 11 hours of football in all competitions.

But the visitors left it late to earn all three points, the result leaving Louis van Gaal's title hopefuls just a point behind leaders Leicester with a third of the season gone, while extending their unbeaten run to eight in all competitions.

Van Gaal had said in his pre-match press conference that he had expected more from Depay since his £25m signing from PSV in the summer, and the forward duly responded.

Getting on the end of Herrera's fine first-time cross from the right, Depay turned the ball home into the top corner from eight yards with his left foot for his fifth goal in a United shirt.

Watford were nearly level 10 minutes later after Ashley Young's slip allowed Deeney to play Ighalo through, but after turning Schweinsteiger, his effort was sliced wide of De Gea's goal.

Depay was impressive throughout the afternoon and nearly sneaked in a second just before the break from 20 yards, but for Heurelho Gomes' save.

Gomes was again at his best just a minute into the second half, turning Jesse Lingard's shot past the post after the youngster was put through on goal by Depay.

At the other end, Deeney's blistering effort on the half volley forced a save out of De Gea, as the league's joint-best defence was tested by the home side.

De Gea was again at his best with 20 minutes remaining, getting down brilliantly to his right to turn away Abdi's deflected shot off the head of Chris Smalling.

Lingard, who scored his first senior United goal against West Brom a fortnight ago, should have had his second late on, but his lofted effort after being put through on goal by Daley Blind fell into Gomes' grateful hands.

Referee Robert Madley then handed Watford a penalty with five minutes remaining after Rojo brought down Ighalo, who had his back to goal, allowing Deeney to slip the ball down the middle of De Gea's net to equalise from the spot.

Smalling nearly put United immediately back in front, but Gomes was again equal to his flicked effort inside the area, acrobatically turning the ball behind.

But with stoppage-time approaching, Gomes parried Lingard's effort across goal into the path of Schweinsteiger from an acute angle, and the German's effort was turned over the line by Deeney to hand United the victory.

Player ratings

Watford: Gomes (7); Nyom (5), Cathcart (6), Britos (6), Anya (6); Capoue (6), Watson (6); Abdi (5), Jurado (5), Deeney (6); Ighalo (6)

Subs used: Ake (6), Paredes (6)

Manchester United: De Gea (7); Young (6), Jones (6), Smalling (6), Blind (6); Schneiderlin (6), Schweinsteiger (6); Mata (7), Herrera (6), Lingard (6); Memphis (7)

Subs used: Rojo (5), Pereira (6), McNair (6)

Man of the match: Memphis Depay

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