Watford 1 - Man Utd 2: Late Troy Deeney own goal gives Louis van Gaal's men victory

Troy Deeney's own goal gave Man Utd three points against Watford

TROY DEENEY went from hero to villain in the space of five minutes as the Watford striker scored a late penalty and then an own goal to give Manchester United a 2-1 victory at Vicarage Road.

 

Deeney looked to have snatched a point for the Hornets with a late penalty to cancel out the returning Memphis Depay's early opener.

But the Watford captain bundled in a Bastian Schweinsteiger cross moments later to give United all three points.

The win means United are now unbeaten in eight in all competitions and moves Louis van Gaal's side to the top of the Premier League table.

 

Before kick-off at Vicarage Road La Marseillaise was played out in tribute to victims of the Paris terrorist attacks eight days ago.

United's injury crisis meant a first league start for Depay since United's 3-0 defeat to Arsenal on October 4 while youngsters Marcus Rashford and Sean Goss were named on the bench.

And the 21-year-old Depay marked his return by breaking the deadlock by tapping in Ander Herrera's superb cross from the right. 

 



Memphis Depay scores Manchester United's opening goal



 



Man Utd and Watford players line up to remember the victims of last week's terror attacks in Paris



The hosts could have equalised when Etienne Capoue nicked the ball off Ashley Young near the halfway line. 

He set Odion Ighalo free but the forward took too long before blazing over.

Despite the chance United were in control, with Morgan Schneiderlin twice going close to doubling their advantage before the break. 

 

Troy Deeney looked to have rescued a point with a penalty before he scored an own goal

In the second-half United had a number of chances to add the their lead with the best falling to Jesse Lingard.

He latched on to Daley Blind's lofted ball down the middle, but his attempted lob dropped harmlessly into the hands of Gomes.

It almost proved costly as three minutes from time Marcos Rojo swiped through the back of Ighalo and referee Bobby Madley pointed to the spot.

Deeney slammed the penalty down the middle to send the home crowd delirious, but they had barely retaken their seats when, a minute into injury time, he then bundled in Schweinsteiger's cross to gift the Red Devils the narrowest of victories.