Manchester United can make it four wins on the bounce with a win vs. mid-table Watford.
After brushing aside Shrewsbury Town and FC Midtjylland, and overcoming a much tougher test against Arsenal, Manchester United now face Watford in a game that could help Louis van Gaal’s side mount a late challenge for the Premier League top four.
With a win, depending on what happens in Manchester City’s match with Liverpool, United could go level on points with their local rivals. Although City do have a game in hand, there is still one more Manchester derby to go this season. Results tonight could make that fixture at the end of the month a hugely important one.
First, though, United must beat Watford and build on the momentum gained during the last week. Injuries at last look like subsiding, 11 goals have been scored in the last three games and, perhaps most importantly, United have something to play for in three different competitions.
The problem, of course, is that each time United have strung together a series of impressive results or performances in the past, it’s often been followed by a turgid and lamentable display against sub-par opposition. The danger is that Watford at home will be another Norwich or Southampton.
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With the importance of the game therefore clear, United will field as strong a team as possible. Getting back into the Champions League is so important and, although it will also require a collapse from one of the current top-four sides to happen, United have to beat teams like Watford to have any chance.
The away side, though, have enjoyed a good season. With Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney up front, they are a dangerous team and will pose a real threat. Defending well – and cutting out the mistakes that led to Arsenal’s two goals – is the first thing United must do.
In attack, against a team that will likely sit deep, United must pass the ball quickly, stretch the pitch and go from front to back as quickly as possible. For Marcus Rashford’s second vs. Arsenal, United won the ball back inside their own half, played 10 passes forward and the ball was in the back of the net. Replicating that type of move against Watford will go a long way to winning the game.
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Again, like the Arsenal game, scoring in the first half would ease the pressure and make things much easier against such an organised side. Watford’s two banks of four will be like two yellow walls and breaking through them is easier said than done.
The longer the game goes on without the goal, the more agitated the crowd will become and the likelier it will be that we see another debacle similar to the ones vs. Norwich and Southampton.
Van Gaal, however, will surely have learned some lessons from those two games and ensure that United go for the win early in the match. If United score early, play at a fast tempo and continue in the way they left off vs. Arsenal, a 3-0 predicted score line seems reasonable. If they play lethargically, fail to create chances and pass the ball around aimlessly, another 0-0 predicted score line wouldn’t be too difficult to imagine.
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Either way, United’s home game vs. Watford on Wednesday night is hugely significant. A draw or a defeat all but ends the chances of a top-four finish. A win, however, would apply just enough pressure on City to make that derby at the end of the month an enormous game.