Troy Deeney own goal spares Marcos Rojo's blushes as Man Utd win at Watford

Troy Deeney scored a penalty with three minutes remaining but then scored an own goal as Manchester United beat Watford 2-1 at Vicarage Road.

Manchester United took an early lead when Memphis’s calmly controlled volley from an Ander Herrera cross gave the stand-in striker his second Premier League goal, having been criticised for his poor form by Louis van Gaal earlier in the week.

United were on top, creating chances and controlling possession, but Van Gaal rejigged his side into a 3-5-2 formation after Herrera left with what seemed a hamstring injury.

[STORY: United injury woes worsen as Herrera and Jones go off]

Watford had chances of their own, but nothing of real merit in the first half.

In the second half, Watford grew into the match and equalised when Marcos Rojo gave away a witless foul in the box on Odion Ighalo, and Deeney converted from the spot with minutes left.

But on the stroke of 90 minutes, Deeney slid to block Bastian Schweinsteiger’s attempt from a tight angle, but succeeded only in taking it over the line. The win puts United top of the Premier League.

11’ - GOAL! Watford 0-1 Manchester United. Memphis scores: A first-time, whipped cross from Herrera finds Memphis ahead of his marker, and he side-foots a volley into the net. An excellent goal.

27’ - SCHNEIDERLIN CHANCE: Free kick on the left for United. Mata takes, fired in low, and it's back out to Rojo. Watford can't cross and Schneiderlin seizes on a loose corner, and volleys just over from a wide angle.

39’ - MEMPHIS SHOT: Memphis cuts in from the left and forces Gomes to dive to the right to push the shot past the near post.

70’ - DE GEA SAVE: David de Gea dives right to push away a deflected shot from Abdi after United failed to clear the ball.

86’ - PENALTY! Rojo pulls down Ighalo in the box, and slides through him at the same time.

87’ - GOAL! Watford 1-1 Manchester United. Deeney scores: De Gea dives to his right, but Deeney's shot is just behind him and Watford have their equaliser.

90’ - GOAL! Watford 1-2 Manchester United: Deeney scores an own goal. Watford struggle to clear again and again. Lingard shoots, Gomes palms it out. Schweinsteiger tries to squeeze in a shot and Deeney's sliding attempt to block takes it over the line.

Memphis Depay’s goal was the first that Watford have conceded in the first half of a game at Vicarage Road since January 24th 2015 (v Blackpool).

Ander Herrera has had a hand in four goals in his last six Premier League appearances for Man Utd (two goals, two assists).

Louis Van Gaal’s side went 641 minutes without conceding a goal before Troy Deeney’s strike from the penalty spot.

Troy Deeney has scored more goals in his last four games for Watford (3) than he had in his previous 17 for the club.

Deeney became the first player to score a goal and an own goal in the same Premier League match since Damien Delaney in May 2014 (Crystal Palace v Liverpool).

The Red Devils have lost just one of their last nine Premier League matches (W6 D2 L1).

80% of the goals scored in the Premier League at Vicarage Road this season have come after half-time (eight of 10).

Memphis Depay had 67 touches in this match – Wayne Rooney has only had more than this in one of his 11 Premier League appearances this season (68 v Arsenal).

Manchester United's injuries are mounting. In this game alone, Phil Jones and Ander Herrera left the pitch, and this was a side already missing Michael Carrick, Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney. Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw are also long-term injuries. Van Gaal sent out a lot of deadwood in the last three transfer windows, and now may need to juggle thin stretched resources until he can add to the squad in January.

David de Gea (Manchester United): United started brightly, but familiar failings of lack of focus, susceptibility to injury, a lack of ruthlessness in goal and Louis van Gaal's poor substitutions ceded the initiative to Watford. If it wasn't for De Gea's occasional excellence, including a save from Almen Abdi, they would have likely conceded more than just a single goal.

Watford: Gomes 6, Nyom 6, Cathcart 5, Britos 5, Anya 6, Capoue 6, Watson 5, Abdi 5, Jurado 5, Deeney 6, Ighalo 6. Subs: Paredes 6, Aké 6.

Manchester United: De Gea 7, Young 6, Jones 6, Smalling 6, Blind 6, Schneiderlin 6, Schweinsteiger 6, Mata 6, Herrera 7, Lingard 6, Memphis 6. Subs: Rojo 5, McNair 6, Pereira 6.