Premier League: Manchester United Gifted Victory Away To Watford

Disappointment struck Manchester United within a space of four minutes that cost them 2-0 defeat to struggling Watford and that dealt blow to their race to make the top four of the table.

By the look of the game, both goals conceded were almost needless that should have been saved or avoided giving away a spot-kick but it was not just a game that was United's.

Prior to David de Gea's devastating error that gifted away the opening goal by poorly saving Ismaila Sarr's volley following a free-kick, he had poorly a corner that bounced off his hands to Abdoulaye Doucoure to finish off but was ruled out for a foul on Gea in the box.

The second goal was not his making but Aaron Wan-Bissaka's who needlessly brought down Sarr in the back and gave away a penalty to Hornet for Troy Deeney to convert. Both goals happened within four minutes in the second half.

Watford manager Nigel Pearson celebrates victory over Manchester United with Craig Cathcart  

United had a chance to move ahead in the lead before misery struck, Marcus Rashford inspired a fast break but Jessie Lingard lobbed the ball just too high over Ben Foster. They did not come close again until Watford had gained the lead by 2-0.

"I am very pleased with the result. We needed that very badly," said Watford manager Nigel Pearson. "It would have been difficult to go beyond Christmas without a win."

In the end, struggling Watford boosted hope of making it out of the relegation zone with their second league game victory of the season and snapped their 12 consecutive home league game winless runs.