David de Gea howler sees Watford stun Manchester United 2-0 at Vicarage Road

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Joe Krishnan22 December 2019

Two calamitous defensive errors cost Manchester United dearly as Watford claimed a first Premier League home win of the season with a 2-0 victory at Vicarage Road.

David de Gea and Aaron Wan-Bissaka both made key mistakes as Watford scored twice in five second-half minutes to consign United to yet another defeat against a team in the bottom half of the table.

Paul Pogba returned to the matchday squad for the first time in nearly three months, taking his place on the bench, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named an unchanged line-up from the 1-1 draw with Everton last week.

Watford meanwhile were the only side in all four divisions of English football not have won a home game this season and were hoping to end their run of 12 games without victory at Vicarage Road.

But it was United who had the first chance, with Anthony Martial dragging his shot wide after a fine breakaway move involving Daniel James down the right.

Getty Images

The home side did have the ball in the net when Abdoulaye Doucoure slotted home but referee Lee Mason had blown his whistle for a foul on De Gea in the build-up.

Chances were far and few between until the 33rd minute when Martial set Lingard in on goal with Watford caught napping. The attacking midfielder only had Ben Foster to beat but opted to go for an audacious lob - rather than a more simple finish - and lifted his effort onto the roof of the net.

That was as close as either side came to scoring in a drab first half of football but it was an entirely different proposition after the break thanks to a horrendous error from De Gea.

Ismaila Sarr's mishit volley should have comfortable for the Spaniard but the ball slipped through his grasp and trickled over the line to give Watford the lead after 50 minutes.

REUTERS

Just four minutes later, Watford doubled the damage. It was Sarr again who caused havoc at the back with a run into the box and the usually reliable Wan-Bissaka went to ground with a clumsy challenge.

Mason pointed to the spot and Troy Deeney hammered his spot-kick down the middle.

AFP via Getty Images

United had a chance to get back in the contest immediately only to see Scott McTominay's effort palmed away by Foster.

Solskjaer sent on Pogba along with Mason Greenwood and Juan Mata in an attempt to salvage something from the game but when the chances did come, his side failed to take them.

Pogba's strike was tipped away by Foster before a lob from Greenwood looped over the bar.

But despite some late effort to work their way back into the game, United's attempts fell flat as they succumbed to a fourth league away defeat this season.

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