Watford-Man Utd talking points

From a controversial refereeing call to Watford’s super sub, Peter Smith picks out the talking points from Manchester United’s defeat at Vicarage Road…

Watford stunned Manchester United 3-1 at Vicarage Road, sending Jose Mourinho’s side to their third straight defeat.

After losing the Manchester derby last weekend and then going down to Feyenoord in the Europa League in midweek, United fell behind to Etienne Capoue’s opener in the first half on Sunday. Marcus Rashford struck an equaliser after the break but, with United pushing for a winner, substitute Juan Camilo Zuniga scored with his first touch before winning a late penalty for Troy Deeney to wrap up the points.

Here, we look at the talking points from the match.

Mind the gap

Manchester United made an ideal start to the season under Jose Mourinho, winning their first three fixtures. But their defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford last weekend, followed by this loss at Watford, means United are six points and nine goals worse off than their neighbours, who stormed to another crushing win on Saturday over Bournemouth.

With defending champions Leicester next up, before a trip to Anfield in mid-October, life isn’t going to get any easier for Mourinho’s men – especially as they also have Europa League commitments around those fixtures.

It’s early days but United can ill-afford any more slip-ups or their city rivals could soon be out of sight. Mourinho – who has now tasted defeat in three consecutive games in the same season for the first time since he was at Porto in 2001/02 – needs an instant response.

Foul or no foul on Martial?

Anthony Martial – who had come off worse from a clash of heads with Daryl Janmaat a few minutes earlier – was robbed of possession by Miguel Britos in the build-up to Watford’s opener. The Frenchman, who perhaps should have been withdrawn after his collision with Janmaat, had ample time to clear his lines but was …

continue reading in source www.skysports.com