Manchester United travelled to Watford in the Premier League on Sunday looking to bounce back from two straight defeats to Manchester City and Feyenoord.
Watford dominated the first half of action, however, and led at the break courtesy of a 34th-minute effort from Etienne Capoue, who found a route past David de Gea with a well-placed strike.
Man United were level just past the hour when Marcus Rashford fired home from close range, but Watford scored a second late on through Juan Zuniga, before Troy Deeney rattled in a penalty in stoppage time.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Morning all! Sports Mole's live Premier League coverage continues from Vicarage Road as Watford welcome Manchester United. The visitors will be looking to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Manchester derby last weekend, but Watford will be full of confidence after winning 4-2 at West Ham United last time out. It should be a fascinating game of football from the capital!
In total, these two clubs have met on 26 occasions in all competitions. Man United have recorded 17 wins, Watford four, while the remaining five matches finished level. It is a fixture that dates back to 1950, when Man United recorded a 1-0 victory in the FA Cup. Watford actually went six games unbeaten against the Red Devils between 1984 and 1986, but they have really struggled to pick up results in recent years.
Indeed, Watford have lost each of their last 11 games against Man United in all competitions, including the last six in the Premier League. Last season, Man United recorded a 2-1 victory in this stadium, before winning 1-0 at Old Trafford in March in a game where Odion Ighalo missed a hatful. It is actually 30 years since Man United last lost to Watford in the league – a 2-1 defeat in September 1986.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Vicarage Road. Has Jose Mourinho rung the changes following the 1-0 Europa League defeat to Feyenoord on Thursday night? Do Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo both start for Watford? Let's have a look...
TEAMS!
WAT: Gomes; Cathcart, Prodl, Britos; Janmaat, Pereyra, Behrami, Capoue, Holebas; Deeney, Ighalo
UTD: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Bailly, Shaw; Pogba, Fellaini; Rashford, Rooney, Martial; Ibrahimovic
Just the one change to the Watford team that started the 4-2 win over West Ham last weekend as Sebastian Prodl replaces Younes Kaboul, who has dropped out with a hamstring problem. As expected, Deeney and Ighalo continue in the final third of the field, while Daryl Janmaat and Jose Holebas will operate in the two wing-back positions. Roberto Pereyra also continues in midfield.
As for Man United, Jose Mourinho has made five changes to the team that lost at Feyenoord on Thursday night, with Antonio Valencia, Luke Shaw, Marouane Fellaini, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic all returning to the XI. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial keep their spots in the team, while Chris Smalling comes in for his first Premier League start of the season ahead of Daley Blind.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff at Vicarage Road. I shall talk about Watford and their start to the season a little bit later, but let's start with Man United, who made a very positive start to life under Mourinho. It was all plain sailing in the opening weeks, but they will enter this match off the back of successive defeats in two competitions.
Man United have already secured a trophy this season after beating Premier League champions Leicester City in the Community Shield last month, and they followed that success with a 3-1 victory away to Bournemouth on the opening weekend of the Premier League. Then came a comfortable 2-0 victory over Southampton as the Red Devils moved onto six points after two games.
Rashford struck a stoppage-time winner against Hull City before the international break to move Man United onto nine points in the Premier League table, but they suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend, losing 2-1 to rivals Manchester City in the Manchester derby. It was a big blow for the Red Devils, who were outclassed in the opening half, where the damage was done.
Mourinho would have been looking to bounce back against Feyenoord in the Europa League on Thursday night, but a team that showed eight changes from the Manchester derby suffered a 1-0 defeat in Rotterdam. It was another disappointing performance from the Red Devils and it is imperative that they bounce back this afternoon in the Premier League. Warm-ups underway here...
In terms of what is ahead for Man United, they will travel to Northampton Town in the third round of the League Cup next Wednesday, before hosting the champions Leicester in the league next weekend. The month of September ends with a Europa League match at home to Zorya and that game has taken on added importance after the defeat to Feyenoord on Thursday night.
As for Watford, they will enter this match in 12th position in the Premier League table having collected four points from their opening four games of the new season. They started the new campaign with a 1-1 draw at Southampton, before losing 2-1 at home to Chelsea on August 20. Then came disappointment in the League Cup second round as they lost at home to Gillingham.
It has actually been three straight home defeats for Watford this season as they were beaten 3-1 at home by Arsenal on August 27, but Walter Mazzarri's side responded with a 4-2 victory over West Ham last weekend to record their first league win of the new campaign. They have conceded seven goals in their three league matches this term, but have scored six times. Goals today then!
It would be fair to say that Watford relied too heavily on Deeney and Ighalo to score goals last season, but this term, they have seen five different players register in the opening four matches. Incredibly, it took them 17 games into last season to achieve that statistic and Mazzarri has already handed Premier League appearances to 22 different players this season. Even the kit man has had a game.
In terms of what is ahead for Watford, the Hornets will travel to Burnley next Monday night in their final game of the month. They will then welcome Bournemouth on October 1, before travelling to Middlesbrough and Swansea City, and hosting Hull City before the end of the month. On paper, it is a pretty good run of fixtures after a really tough start, in terms of opposition, to the new campaign.
A reminder of the two teams this afternoon...
WAT: Gomes; Cathcart, Prodl, Britos; Janmaat, Pereyra, Behrami, Capoue, Holebas; Deeney, Ighalo
UTD: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Bailly, Shaw; Pogba, Fellaini; Rashford, Rooney, Martial; Ibrahimovic
Here we go then! The pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. It must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium this afternoon. Man United just cannot afford another defeat here, but it will be a very tough game at Vicarage Road.
KICKOFF! Man United kick things off at Vicarage Road...
... Man United are in their home red and white kit this afternoon, while Watford take to the field in their yellow and black strip. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital in this match. Early possession for the Red Devils as they recycle the ball at the back.
Half-chance for Man United as Rooney delivers a dangerous free kick onto the head of Smalling, but his effort was always moving wide of the post. Decent start from the visiting team here.
Janmaat threatens to break clear for the home side down the right, but Shaw makes up some serious ground to make a brilliant challenge. Both teams are looking to press plenty forward.
It does appear that Man United are playing 4-3-3 this afternoon, with Rooney dropping into a central midfield position, allowing Martial and Rashford to operate in the wide areas either side of Ibrahimovic. It is the visitors that are in control of the possession as they continue to pass and probe.
Valencia breaks down the right for Man United and the defender is found by Rooney, but the Ecuador international's cross is blocked and it bounces behind for a goal kick. Watford are having to defend their own box in the early exchanges, but they look nice and solid this afternoon.
Little bit better from Watford in the last couple of minutes as they start to threaten the Man United defence with a number of high balls into the box. Fellaini, however, has been nice and strong here.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side to take the lead as Prodl pulls clear at the far post to meet a deep free kick and his header just drops wide! Deeney was very close to making contact and it would surely have ended up in the back of the net. Let-off for Man United.
MISS! What a miss! Stunning chance for Watford as a mix-up between Smalling and De Gea sees the ball drop for Ighalo with an open goal, but the striker somehow misses the post!
That was an incredible miss from Ighalo, but Watford are enjoying a very good period as they continue to put pressure on the away side's defence. Man United just need to settle down here.
Watford on top with 16 minutes on the clock. Man United made a decent start in terms of possession, but the home side really should be ahead after that incredible chance for Ighalo.
SAVE! Incredible save from De Gea as the Man United stopper keeps out a bullet header from Deeney, who had beaten Valencia in the air. How are Watford not ahead in this game.
Watford are dominant here as they continue to deliver high balls into the Man United box, but the score is still goalless and that will be the disappointing thing for the home side. The visitors just cannot get the likes of Ibrahimovic in the game as this first period continues to gather pace.
Rashford looks to feed a low cross into the Watford box after finding space down the right, but Gomes is on hand to claim. Very comfortable for Watford at the moment it must be said.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Man United as Rashford drives down the right before delivering a low cross into Ibrahimovic, but the Swede can only hit the side netting! Big chance!
Somehow this game is still goalless with 24 minutes on the clock. Watford have had the better chances, but Ibrahimovic has just missed a big one for Man United. Cracking game of football here.
You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - will be vital in this match. I am actually expecting a few goals, but the first is absolutely massive. Man United are enjoying more of the ball at the moment as they pass and probe, but Watford are also committing men forward.
Rashford delivers another dangerous cross towards Ibrahimovic, but the Swede cannot make contact and Watford can resume from the dead-ball line. End-to-end football at the moment.
Martial stays down for Man United following a nasty clash of heads with Janmaat.
Janmaat initially stayed on his feet, but now the Dutchman is down. Stoppage in play here.
Great to see both players back on their feet and both will continue, it seems.
Man United are not really getting Pogba in the game at the moment, with their main threat coming through Rashford down the right. Ibrahimovic seems to be growing after a slow start to the match.
CROSSBAR! Pogba bursts into life as he strikes one towards goal and it hits the crossbar!
Smalling attacks a near-post corner from Rooney, but the centre-back's header is wide of the post. The chances are starting to arrive for Man United after a really difficult period of this match.
GOAL! Watford 1-0 Man United (Capoue)
Watford make the breakthrough in the 34th minute of this match as Janmaat muscles Martial off the ball before delivering a low cross into Capoue, who finds the bottom corner from close range.
Martial is still down for Man United after that challenge from Britos in a wide position.
Some discussions taking place on Twitter about whether that was a foul on Martial. It looked one to me, but the referee was not interested and Watford lead late in the first period here.
MAN UNITED SUB! Young replaces Martial, who never recovered from that clash of heads and had his pocket picked in a wide position for the opening goal. Man United must respond.
Shaw has a low cross deflected wide of the post as Man United look to hit back here.
Young looks to feed a low cross into the Watford box, but it is a very comfortable for Gomes and more misery for Man United, who are staring at a third straight defeat in all competitions.
A mistake from Watford allows Ibrahimovic to break through on the Watford goal, but Prodl is back to make a fine challenge, before Rashford is penalised for a foul on Brahimi in the middle of the park.
Ibrahimovic has another chance to break through on the Watford goal, but the striker cannot win the race with Gomes and for some reason, Young decides to pass rather than attempt to find the open net from an attacking position. Down the other end, Pogba fouls Capoue outside the box...
... Holebas goes low and De Gea drops to make the save.
Four additional minutes to be played at the end of the first period.
Watford have the ball in the Man United half as we approach the final stages of the first half, where Watford lead courtesy of a well-placed Capoue strike. Man United have been poor once again.
Deeney beats Fellaini to a Rooney corner and wins his team a vital free kick.
Rashford looks to pick out the top corner after the ball falls for the striker just inside the Watford box, but his effort was always moving high of the crossbar. Watford will lead at the break.
HALF-TIME: Watford 1-0 Man United
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Man United leading 1-0 courtesy of a smart finish from Capoue, who found a route past De Gea at the near post. Man United have had chances to equalise, but it has been another lacklustre performance from Mourinho's side.
STATISTICS! Man United have shaded the possession with 59%, while they have had eight attempts, but not yet managed to hit the target. Watford, meanwhile, have hit the target with three of their six attempts and in truth, could have scored two of three times in the first period. No yellow cards to report thus far, but there have been some tasty challenges at Vicarage Road.
BENCH WATCH! Mourinho has already been forced into one change this afternoon - Young taking the place of Martial, who never recovered from a clash of heads with Janmaat. However, the Portuguese still has the likes of Carrick, Memphis, Herrera and Mata on an attack-minded bench. Watford, meanwhile, have forward options in the shape of Amrabat, Kenedy and Isaac Success.
RESTART! Watford resume the action at Vicarage Road...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that Mourinho will make another alteration if the score stays the same for the next 15, 20 minutes.
Ibrahimovic snatches at a shot from the edge of the box and his effort is wide of the post.
Behrami stands strong to block a strike from Young as Man United continue to put the pressure on in the early stages of the second period. This is, at least, better from the away side here.
WATFORD SUB! Amrabat replaces Janmaat for the home side.
Valencia is forced to turn the ball behind as Ighalo looks to find Capoue inside the Man United box. A second goal for Watford would place them in a really strong position at this stage of the game.
Watford seemed to have survived that period of pressure from the visitors and are now looking to score a second goal themselves. Still plenty of time to football in this Premier League fixture.
A point here would not be the worst result for Man United, but they just cannot afford to lose. They cannot afford to suffer a third successive defeat, not at this stage of the campaign.
Not an awful not happening in terms of chances at the moment as Man United continue to struggle in the final third of the field. There is no real creation from Mourinho's side at the moment.
Man United are really, really struggling here and Mourinho is going to make another change as Mata receives his final instructions. Something needs to change for the Red Devils in this match.
MAN UNITED SUB! Mata replaces Valencia for the away side.
GOAL! Watford 1-1 Man United (Rashford)
Level! Man United equalise in the 62nd minute of this match as Ibrahimovic delivers a telling cross into the Watford box and it falls for Rashford, who smashes the ball home from close range!
Big 25 minutes of football to come in this match. Man United are on the front foot at the moment as they look to take control and score a second, which would be tough on Watford to be honest!
Super work from Ibrahimovic as the striker wins a free kick from Amrabat in a wide area...
... Rooney delivers a dangerous cross towards Fellaini, but Cathcart makes the clearance.
It is all Man United at the moment as they continue to deliver dangerous crosses into the Watford box, but their latest attack ends when Bailly fires over the crossbar from distance. Still 1-1 here.
Little under 20 minutes of this Premier League match remaining and you just get the feeling that there is going to be a late sting in the tail. Watford have not really threatened in this second period, but they will always have a chance with Deeney and Ighalo on the field. Man United back in possession.
Pereyra delivers a dangerous free kick into the Man United box and it is flicked on by Prodl, but Shaw clears into the air and Pogba makes the final clearance. Dangerous moment there.
BOOKING! Pogba (Man United) is booked for pushing Behrami.
Free kick Man United in dangerous area as Cathcart fells Shaw...
... Ibrahimovic strikes straight into the wall. What a waste.
BOOKING! Britos (Watford) is booked for a foul on Rashford.
BOOKING! Holebas (Watford) is booked for dissent.
SAVE! Gomes flies across his goal to keep out an Ibrahimovic header as Fellaini finds the striker at the far post! Should have been 2-1 Man United as the pressure grows here.
Movement on both benches at the moment as we enter the final 10 minutes of this match.
Gomes comes to clear a deep Mata free kick as the pressure continues from Man United, who have been much the better side in the second period. Watford are preparing their second change here.
WATFORD SUB! Zuniga replaces Capoue for the home side.
GOAL! Watford 2-1 Man United (Zuniga)
Zuniga has only just come off the bench, and he has scored. Watford lead 2-1 late on as Pereyra finds space down the right before delivering a low cross into Zuniga, who finds the far corner of the net.
MAN UNITED SUB! Memphis replaces Shaw for the away side.
BOOKING! Deeney (Watford) is booked for a foul on Mata.
Man United are a few minutes away from losing a third straight match.
BOOKING! Fellaini (Man United) is booked for a foul on Zuniga.
BOOKING! Memphis (Man United) is booked for dissent.
WATFORD SUB! Ighalo is replaced by Success.
BOOKING! Rooney (Man United) is booked for dissent.
We are into the third of four additional minutes here.
WATFORD PENALTY!
Watford have a penalty as Fellaini brings Zuniga to the ground inside the box.
GOAL! Watford 3-1 Man United (Deeney, pen)
Deeney fires his spot kick past De Gea and Watford have all the points.
FULL-TIME: Watford 3-1 Man United
So there we have it. Watford beat Man United for the first time in 30 years as Deeney scores a late penalty in a 3-1 success. That is just about it from me this afternoon, but be sure to stick around the site for all of today's Premier League action. Man United - three straight defeats now.
