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Touch of class

Watford 3 Manchester United 1: Juan Zuniga’s late strike cancels out Marcus Rashford after Etienne Capoue drew first blood for Hornets

Supersub netted and Troy Deeney smashed pen as Jose Mourinho suffers third straight defeat

JUAN ZUNIGA pounced late to wipe out Marcus Rashford's equaliser and leave Jose Mourinho with three straight defeats for just the third time in his career.

The 18-year-old struck on his first start this season after Etienne Capoue had put the hosts in front while Hornets boss Walter Mazzarri was left to rue Odion Ighalo's open-goal miss.

Marcus Rashford wheels away after netting the equaliser for Man United
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Marcus Rashford wheels away after netting the equaliser for Man UnitedCredit: Reuters
Anthony Martial and Daryl Janmaat clash heads during the first half
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Anthony Martial and Daryl Janmaat clash heads during the first halfCredit: Getty Images
A dazed Anthony Martial went off with suspected concussion after a clash of heads
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A dazed Anthony Martial went off with suspected concussion after a clash of headsCredit: Getty Images
Etienne Capoue celebrates scoring the opener for Watford against Man United
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Etienne Capoue celebrates scoring the opener for Watford against Man UnitedCredit: Reuters
Juan Zuniga celebrates after he put Watford in front
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Juan Zuniga celebrates after he put Watford in frontCredit: Getty Images
Troy Deeney smashes home the penalty that gave the Hornets a 3-1 win
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Troy Deeney smashes home the penalty that gave the Hornets a 3-1 winCredit: Getty Images

Capoue drew first blood in the 34th-minute when he side-footed in Daryl Janmaat's ground pass as Anthony Martial was taken off appearing to suffer from concussion following a clash of heads with Janmaat.

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But United got fortunate with their 62nd-minute equaliser with Zlatan Ibrahimovic's cross bouncing off the arm of Valon Behrami and into Rashford's path for him to tap in.

However, Zuniga was on hand to slot home Roberto Pereyra's pass and lift Watford into the top half.

Matters got worse for United in injury-time when Troy Deeney smashed home a penalty after Marouane Fellaini's foul for their first win over the Red Devils in 30 years.

Read SunSport's five things we learnt here.

FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

  • Vicarage Road can be a bit quiet at times but the atmosphere at the ground  beforehand– with loads of fans waving flags – was excellent.
  • England boss Sam Allardyce must have been a happy man. Chris Smalling and Marcus Rashford got their first Premier League starts of the season.
  • Watford fans could not believe their team wasting lots of chances early on. Prodl should have scored but the miss of the season came from Ighalo after a dropped catch by De Gea.
  • Referees are under orders to stamp out indiscipline from players but they should still penalise play-acting. Pereyra was a disgrace, falling to the ground clutching his face after minimal contact from Fellaini.
Troy Deeney came close to putting Watford in front but his header was saved by David De Gea
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Troy Deeney came close to putting Watford in front but his header was saved by David De GeaCredit: Getty Images
Odion Ighalo reacts to his astonishing open-goal miss against Man United
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Odion Ighalo reacts to his astonishing open-goal miss against Man UnitedCredit: Reuters
  • The advertising hoarding at Watford on top of both dugouts are for a drink call Bulldog Power Sport. Ever seen it in a shop?
  • Vicarage Road erupted when Capoue scored the opener. This was his fourth of the season – not bad when you consider he failed to score for Watford last season and managed just one in two years at Spurs – and that was in a 5-1 loss to Manchester City in January 2014.
  • After the goal, Martial stayed down injured and was then helped down the tunnel looking in pain.
Etienne Capoue drew first blood for Watford as David De Gea watches on
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Etienne Capoue drew first blood for Watford as David De Gea watches onCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Paul Pogba rushed to check on the state of Anthony Martial after he went down
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Paul Pogba rushed to check on the state of Anthony Martial after he went downCredit: Getty Images
Jose Mourinho looked less than impressed with his side's showing at Vicarage Road
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Jose Mourinho looked less than impressed with his side's showing at Vicarage RoadCredit: AP:Associated Press
Anthony Martial had to be helped to his feet by medics after his clash
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Anthony Martial had to be helped to his feet by medics after his clashCredit: Getty Images
  • More credit to the Watford fans. They gave former star Ashley Young a terrific reception when he replaced Martial in the first half.
  • During the first half, United had 58 per cent possession but not a shot on target.
  • United’s players appealed for a penalty after Rashford’s header struck against Behrami but the teenager displayed his striker’s instinct by smashing in the rebound for the leveller.

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

WATFORD: Gomes 6, Cathcart 7, Prodl 6, Britos 6, Janmaat 7 (Amrabat 51, 6), Behrami 6, Capoue 7 (Zuniga 82, 7), Holebas 7, Pereyra 6, Deeney 7, Ighalo 6 (Success 90, 6).

Goals: Capoue (34’), Zuniga (83’), Deeney (90’+5 pen).

Booked: Britos, Holebas, Deeney.

MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea 5, Valencia 7 (Mata 62, 6), Bailly 6, Smalling 6, Shaw 7 (Depay 85, 5) Fellaini 6, POgba 6, Martial 5 (Young 38, 6) Rooney 6, Rashford 6, Ibrahimovic 6.

Goals: Rashford (62')

Booked: Depay, Fellaini, Rooney, Pogba.

STAR MAN: Etienne Capoue, 7.

WHAT THEY SAID

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said: "We were better in the second half and we got the draw and Gomes makes a phenomenal save and the luck is something that we cannot control.

"The only thing we can control is out individual mistakes and our collective mistakes."

Watford star Troy Deeney said: "I am not surprised by how we played. We should take a bit more credit. We pressed well, condensed the space and were tough in the tackle.

"We need to be against teams like Manchester United who have high quality players and spend a lot of money."

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