MANCHESTER United stayed at the top of the Barclays Premiership thanks to their third straight victory - and gave newcomers Watford a tough lesson about life at the top.
With the match level at 1-1, Watford missed a marvellous chance to take the lead, and were promptly punished when Ryan Giggs - outstanding throughout in the visitors' midfield - seized on substitute Matthew Spring's wayward back pass to score the winner after 51 minutes.
Mikael Silvestre had earlier finished off a brilliant move involving Giggs and Louis Saha to put United in front in the 13th minute, but this Watford side possess an unquenchable competitive spirit, and they overcame their clear technical inferiority to equalise through Damien Francis 21 minutes later.
This victory puts United six points clear of champions Chelsea, who are already under pressure and play at Blackburn tomorrow.
Michael Carrick made his first league start for United since his é18.6million move from Tottenham earlier in the summer, while Richard Lee started in goal for Watford as Ben Foster was ineligible under the terms of his loan move from Old Trafford.
Watford began with the same purpose and tenacity that characterised their 1-1 draw with West Ham in midweek and, briefly, Sir Alex Ferguson's side looked rattled.
But having negotiated the opening stages, United began to make their superior passing and movement tell.
Carrick's curling cross in the 10th minute forced Lee to back-pedal quickly and tip over, and from Ryan Giggs' resulting right-wing corner Cristiano Ronaldo - predictably booed by the home supporters - headed just wide of the left post from six yards.
Simplicity
United had to wait only two more minutes before they took the lead with a goal of beautiful simplicity.
Giggs made a menacing run from inside his own half before releasing Louis Saha, who slipped the ball to his left for Silvestre to burst into the penalty area and drill an angled, left-footed shot just inside the right post.
In the 27th minute, Lee made a stunning save to deny Saha, who found space at the near post to direct Giggs' fiercely swerving corner towards goal with his head.
Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd, perhaps recognising the visitors' superiority in midfield, brought off wide man Hameur Bouazza and sent on Spring to give his team more bite and resolve in the centre of the pitch.
The move paid off within three minutes as Watford - who had shown superb spirit when United were at their most dangerous - equalised in the 34th minute.
The impressive Ashley Young tricked his way past Silvestre on the right and drove the ball low across the face of goal where Francis, whose run from midfield had gone untracked, tapped in his second goal in three matches since his summer move from Wigan.
Watford made a bright start to the second half - but were quickly given a demonstration of the ruthlessness which is required to survive and prosper in the Premiership.
In the 51st minute, Watford should have taken the lead - and paid the ultimate penalty when they fell behind 60 seconds later.
Only Dan Shittu and Francis will know why they failed to pounce after Darius Henderson had steered Marlon King's deflected free-kick back across the face of the United goal, with keeper Edwin van der Sar stranded.
The pair - perhaps believing they were off-side - simply stood and watched instead of intervening, and they were quickly punished for their error by Giggs.
Collecting Spring's under-hit back pass, the Welshman evaded goalkeeper Lee with remarkable ease before steering the ball into the empty net with his right foot.
Watford won a number of free-kicks and throw-ins in dangerous areas, as well as corners, but they could not make them count as United held firm in defence.
The visitors almost netted a third with 18 minutes remaining, but Watford keeper Lee reached Ronaldo's through-ball a split second before Park.
While Watford pressed forward, United would always look dangerous on the break, and Lee denied Ronaldo once more with an assured save from the ex-Sporting Lisbon man's left-footed strike from 20 yards.
Saha should have made the game safe in the 88th minute after being supplied superbly by Giggs, but Lee - who had done his cause no harm - was quickly out of his goal to block the France international, while at the other end Shittu fired over in stoppage time.
What do you think? Have your say.
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Good win by the boys today, i thought that Watford was going to b a tricky game today - given the fact theyr'e 1 of the promoted teams and that Aidy Bothrooyd would have had the Hornets really pumped up 4 the game.
We maybe should have won by a bigger margin but i think 2-1's a fair result - watford played well.
Giggs played well today, very energetic and took his goal nicley. Silvestre played ok, took his goal well but was at fault for Watford's goal.
Saha played well today and could have had 2 goals, he led the line well. Cristaino again played well, he was booed again but didn't let it bother him and put in another matured performance.
Carrick played ok, i'd like to see him play with a more combative midfielder but he done ok with Darren "Hero of Scotland" Fletcher today and hopefully thats something 2 build on to when we play Spurs on the 9th.
Overall a good performance, was vital that we won and didn't slip up like Chelsea did against 'Boro.
Keep It Up Boys.
SAF, should strongly be advised not to experiment or gamble with our health.
They say you don't change a winning side so I can't understand why SAF has to change the formation that gave us two wins in two games with the team we had against Walford today.
Sojskael at best can come in as a substute when the game is already won. O'Shea is a slow player so he serves no useful contribution as a right back.
Carrick for now can be used as substute and not as a starter.
In absence of Rooney and Scholes the formation against Chalton is better than what we used today.
However, congratulations to Manu for being the team to beat at the moment and I hope we keep the momentun till the end of the season.
A game we're supposed to win easily we're forced to strugle before we won it.
good win but we need a top striker saha isnt that yet
This is exactly the sort of game where we'd have dropped two points last season. Playing averagely and grinding out a result - it's looking good. We may have been playing bottom-eight teams, but that's precisely where we were having trouble. I'm putting money on Chelsea dropping points tomorrow too...
this match have shown that we must buy at least one player (DM!!!) before deadline. If Bayern resists our offers - f..k them!!! Buy Mascherano or other DM. And attack also should be make stronger: Hunteaar, Tevez or Torres - to pick from. Lets have at the end of the head: we have over sixty matches to play this season and over thirty/injury prone Gigss and Scholes & Saha in first team. If we dont buy we will end probably 3rd in EPL and 1/8 CL. Sorry, I forgot - we will win league cup.
Yes top off the table and doing very well , but lets not get carried away. We have not played any of the big boys yet.
This is it lads we have won the prem already who needs Torres, Tevez, Hargreaves, Ronaldihno, Ronaldo(the real one), Carlos, Messi, Robinho, Viera the list goes on. It`s almost like all these players don`t like our club for some reason but who needs them anyway?
HERE WE AGAIN !!
SAF DID NOT LIKE A START OF A WINING TEAM , SO WHAT HE DID ??? PUT AGAIN DF AND SILVESTRE , MIX UP THE TEAM AGAIN AND WE WON PURLY AND THANKFULLY TO WATFORD LACK OF SCORING OTHER WISE WE WOULD HAVE LOST THAT GAME EASILY !!
PLEASEEEEE SAF !! SAVE US FROM YOUR TACTICALS BLUNDERS AND STICK WITH YOUR WINING FORMATIONS ANS STOP YOURHEART STOPPING TACTICS ..
It seems Rio has a broken toe and will be sidelined for a while. So can anyone tell me what will be our formation against Spurs? It was a scary match but nice to see 3 points in the bag. However, I feel that we should make a move for Tevez and Mascherano before the curtains fall on the transfer window. Ole, Smith or Rossi (currently the player he is, although I believe he will develop) are just not good enough as strikers as the CL level.
another victory and good displays again from giggs rio ronaldo and saha.looking forward to when we get a settled midfield ie one without either oshea and fletcher. although must concede oshes did ok in central defence.
I think Saturday's performance just showed that we have what it takes to win the league this season. Last season we would have probably lost or drawn that game and therefore dropping points. But we scrapped and fought tooth and claw to get those three points and that is what will win us the league. Yes we have played fabulous football in the first two games, but Saturday's game required something different. Instead of simple skillful football, we had to fight with grit and determination. It took power, strength, non stop energy and total commitment from the players and they did the job. There was still flashes of great play though. The first goal was magnificent and Giggs is just playing unbelievably well at the moment. At this rate he could play for another three or four years and people who say he's past it must be deluded! I just hope something happens this week over Hargreaves though. I think he would be a fantastic addition and would just give us that extra in midfield. I really hope he comes. Tell ya what though, Watford weren't exactly a great advert for the premiership though. I think the Watford fans must go home from the match with saw necks because the ball is hardly on the floor. They just lump it up field at every opportunity. It maybe effective in some situations and it kind of stopped us playing, but its not nice to watch is it.
It's alarming that Carrick and Fletcher can't control the midfield against newly promoted Watford. And I just can't believe that Fergie and Gill have spent four months without being able to sign a defensive midfielder. It's just laughable. We have been trying to sign one for ages and nothing happens just these silly rumours, any thoughts Mick??
We rode our luck. We need two signings before the window closes. If not then I fear we won't win the League.
What trash the MUEN write. A lesson on how it is in the top flight? yes when you play utd the referee gives them all the decisions like Phil Dowd did in this HOLLOW victory. A wayward back pass led to OLD MAN Giggs scoring the winner,WHAT NONSENSE we all seen how he was pushed in the back inducing that WAYWARD pass didn't we? Mr Dowd hold your head in shame will you? and how can the ytd fans enjoy winning when they see the official working in their favour? by the way CHELSEA WON 2-0 at Blackburn and that is good VERY GOOD!!!!!!!
You know a good team when
they don't play well but still come away with 3 points.
Giggs is amazing, many thought he was finished 2 years ago but he's playing great! Even Ronaldo is passing! I like what I see so far. I'd would however be disapointed if there were no more signings, hopefully Hargreaves and Teves before the weeks up. With all those fans wearing the new united
shirt I would hope the club will
invest more in the squad than
than just two players.
Carrick is good but more of a water boy than an Eric, we need Hargreaves in there,
and Teves.
Up the Reds
Good to see that the lads are sharing the goal scoring duty.
I am feeling confident without being cocky amd Scholes and Rooney when they are availble will make the team selection a bit tougher for SAF.
The Rio injury coincides with Vidic coming back hopefully, plus the international weekend will give Rio a bit more give him time off to aid recovery.
Once Rooney, Scholes, Ronaldo, Saha Giggs and Carrick can appear on the same team sheet we have to be looking good to create chances and score.
Any news from UK supporters on this site re. transfers? I scour this site, ESPN, United official site, theworldgame, Premier league and BBC and Sky sports daily to see if anything is breaking as we approach the deadline.
I will not be too upset if we don't add but would like to see OH or Reo-Coker added to the MF. Everywhere else looks good.
Having left Warrington in 1972, it is difficult to keep up with how the reserves are going. Did we keep Frazier Campbell or let him out on loan?
His goal aside, Silvestre played like a drain. He has become a liability over recent years. I assume he was picked over Evra because of Watford's physical approach. Otherwise, he should be thrid choice for LB behind Heinze and Evra, perhaps even JOS. We did not show the form of the first two matches but did prove that we can still grind out results, against a team which is probably not the worst and will give a few others a run for their money. Great to see Ole back but I am sorry, he should not be a first team regular at this stage. This is a backward step IMO and he is blocking Rossi's progress, who I am very disappointed has not been given the odd 10/15 minutes. What will happen when Smith is back? I cannot see where he or Rossi will fit in? Good start though but still think the need for a DM is evident.
3 games and 9 points. It doesn't get better than that and whilst we haven't faced a top side yet we still have Rooney and Scholes to come gack not to mention Heinze and Vidic. The future's red - the future's United!!
Just wait until United have to play the strong teams in the Premiership. Then we will see what you are made of. Those ageing legs are sure to start tiring soon. Get those zimmer frames ready Ferguson.
I thought there was only three stooges playing for United Sylvester,Fletcher and the Snail.How can the head stooge keep changing a winning team?
True Blues catching u up, we are the true Champions.
Ole is another stooge. He can't cope with the pace of our game. He is playing in the ninties
CHELSEA FAN GO AWAY! YOU WERE "CHAMPIONS" LAST YEAR? IT IS A NEW YEAR MY FRIEND. AND ALREADY YOU'RE DOWN POINTS... ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END AND IM AFRAID CHELSKI'S TIME IS NOW! Just wait til you bow out of the champions league.. It will sure be funny when Werder bremen sneak by you and join Barca in the next round.
SAF made too many changes to the starting line-up for my liking. I would have stuck with Evra at LB, Park on the wing and Giggs up front. Yes, bring Carrick in as a straight swap for Fletcher but otherwise why change a winning team? Anyway, we've got maximum points from three games so what do I know!? Fingers crossed we get passed Spurs - with Rooney, Scholes and Smith back we can really kick on.
You guys just can't get enough rite? even if the team is winning and grinding out result, you guys just slag them off. mistake apart, i thought silvestre was good, even better with a goal. when was the last time fullback score a goal from a counter attacking play like that? picture lee martin in fa cup final against palace. the build up to the watford goal is good. ashley young really flat footed silvestre. but rio should have clear the ball easily, instead of hassling ( because he afraid he'll got another own goal ) cos the ball come with pace and everything. and also, you football fans should remember that watford play a physical game, and evra is not suitable just yet. that is why silvestre is prefered. who are we, the fans, want to tell ferguson that his selection is wrong?? grow up, guys...