Manchester United vs. Watford result: Cristiano Ronaldo, Red Devils misfire, held to scoreless home draw by Hornets

Sean Markus Clifford

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Manchester United vs. Watford result: Cristiano Ronaldo, Red Devils misfire, held to scoreless home draw by Hornets image

Chalk it up as another Manchester United letdown in their disappointing 2021-22 Premier League season. The Red Devils were held to a 0-0 draw at home by struggling relegation battlers Watford, who put up a fight to come away with a solitary point that will give them a boost in their fight to remain in the Premier League.

Man United saw their hopes of finishing in the Premier League's top four take another hit. Although they currently occupy the fourth spot, which at season's end would secure them a berth in the UEFA Champions League next season, there are other teams like Arsenal in position to overtake United with games in hand.

Things started so well for Manchester United. Anthony Elanga was electric and Cristiano Ronaldo was involved in the first half and hit the post. But after a series of failed chances in front of net, the Man United attacks began losing their edge and fizzling out.

Man United interim manager Ralf Rangnick brought on Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford in the second half, but they could not help achieve the breakthrough as Watford sat in deeper and grew in confidence with every minute.

Bruno Fernandes had a nightmare match around goal with three good looks in the first half that went begging. Ronaldo had two of his own, and he also had two penalty appeals during the course of the match, but the referee didn't point to the spot and replays looked to give the official good reason.

Second from bottom on 19 points, Watford are three points away from safety with key six-point relegation tilts in their last 12 against fellow strugglers Everton, Leeds United, Brentford and Burnley all to be played at Vicarage Road.

Next up for Man United is the Manchester derby next Sunday against the Premier League leaders. The Red Devils can still extract some satisfaction from the league season if they can perhaps cost their rivals a repeat title. A top-four finish is likely difficult at this stage: It will take a strong run of matches and other results to go their way for it to materialize.

Manchester United vs. Watford final score

  1H 2H Final
Man United 0 0 0
Watford 0 0 0

Goals: None
 

(All times Eastern)

Final: Man United 0, Watford 0

90th min.: Three minutes of added time, but Man United couldn't take advantage.

86th min.: Man United can't create any more. Broadcaster shares that Watford have lost in their last 10 trips to Old Trafford. The visitors are working hard and they're about to do the unthinkable.

80th min.: Manchester United watch a Luke Shaw set piece go to waste. Meanwhile, Watford brings in Kucka for Cleverley in midfield.

73rd min.: SUBS - It's Luke Shaw (for Alex Telles at left back) and Marcus Rashford for Nemanja Matic. Man United are throwing the kitchen sink at Watford and it's hard to believe it's come to this for the Red Devils.

70th min.: Watford are looking increasingly solid as the minutes go on. Meanwhile, Man United is preparing two more subs, including Marcus Rashford.

63rd min.: SUBS - Man United bring on Sancho for Fred (Pogba will move deeper in midfield), while Watford make two replacements: Ken Sema for Joshua King, and Christian Kabasele for Jeremy Ngakia.

62nd min.: Indecision by Watford in the back and Fernandes serves up Ronaldo for a shot, but he doesn't get enough on it and it's blocked off the line.

57th min.: Elanga chance! Beautiful back heel pass by Paul Pogba for Elanga behind him, but he pushes wide and can't score. Nice move by United. Pogba needs to be more involved in and around the box.

55th min.: Cristiano Ronaldo goes down in the box on a clash with Kamara and there's a VAR check, but it's ultimately not given. Again, an honest coming together that Ronaldo embellished.

54th min.: Pretty even start to the second half. Watford holding their own. Exactly how the visitors wanted to start the second period.

47th min.: Watford with an early corner and Samir gets a head on it, only to send it wide.

46th min.: Second half is underway. No changes.

Halftime: Man United 0, Watford 0

Halftime: The first half was all Manchester United, but after starting strong, the Red Devils faded. Anthony Elanga was bright and Cristiano Ronaldo looked up for it, early but with every missed chance — Ronaldo had two and Fernandes had another three — the frustration set in. Watford also got a better grip on the game and sat a bit deeper, which seemed to neutralize the United threat. Man United would prefer to run in transition rather than try to break down Watford. Ralf Rangnick probably has to turn to his options off the bench (Sancho, Rashford & Lingard) to keep up the energy of the team.

44th min.: One minute of added time.

42nd min.: Anthony Elanga goes down in the Watford box after a clash with Craig Cathcart, but the referee says play on. And the VAR agrees with the head official. There was nothing illegal about that. Just two players coming together for the ball in a bit of a tangle.

38th min.: Free kick for United just outside the box and Alex Telles watches his left-footed effort go high and wide. The Man United attack is fizzling out as the half approaches a close.

29th min.: Another Man United attack down the left flank and an Alex Telles cross is flicked on to Ronaldo, but he can't poke it past goalkeeper Ben Foster. The home team has good ideas and energy. But with a half-hour gone, they've not buried their chances.

27th min.: Man United play on despite an injury left Louza on the ground and a Ronaldo cross finds Fernandes, but he just can't hit the target. His header goes wide. It's an off-night for Fernandes so far.

19th min.: Another chance for Bruno Fernandes. Paul Pogba delivers the service into the box, where Fernandes made the run, but his flying touch near the penalty mark sent it away from goal instead of on net. Fernandes is frustrated and it's early.

15th min.: Goal Ronaldo, but it's called back for offside. It was a fantastic, sweeping move by Man United which is moving with pace in the attack (again, Elanga is very involved, converging centrally regularly).

14th min.: So Paul Pogba has been operating centrally, while Bruno Fernandes has drifted wide left in the early stages. Everyone assumed Pogba would play wide. It's working out well so far for Man United in attack.

12th min.: Watford 'keeper Ben Foster with the big block on Bruno Fernandes who was put through by Anthony Elanga. The Swede is the most electric United player on the field and he's setting the tone for his team in attack.

9th min.: Man United are a bit casual with their defending, but they explode on the counterattack and Bruno Fernandes gets a shot off after a prolonged attack. His shot was blocked.

5th min.: What a chance for Ronaldo! He hits the post after an excellent play.

3rd min.: Two early corners for Watford. Nothing comes of them for the Hornets.

1st min.: We're off. Man United held a peace sign before the opening whistle.

9:00 a.m.: Man United fans won't forget what Watford did to them in the reverse fixtured in November — 4-1 Watford victory:

Man United vs. Watford lineups

Going into today's fixture, Edinson Cavani is still not available to play as he continues his recovery from a groin issue. Scott McTominay will also be absent for the Reds, after failing to recover from an illness that kept him out of the successful trip to the Spanish capital on Wednesday night. 

Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho all get a rest, as Victor Lindelof and Anthony Elanga are given starts and Paul Pogba is expected to play in a wide attacking role.

Man United starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1-David De Gea (GK) — 29-Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 2-Victor Lindelof, 19-Raphael Varane, 27-Alex Telles — 17-Fred, 31-Nemanja Matic — 36-Anthony Elanga, 18-Bruno Fernandes, 6-Paul Pogba — 7-Cristiano Ronaldo.

Manchester United subs (9): 26-Dean Henderson (GK), 20-Diogo Dalot, 5-Harry Maguire, 23-Luke Shaw, 4-Phil Jones, 25-Jadon Sancho, 10-Marcus Rashford, 14-Jesse Lingard, 8-Juan Mata

As for Watford, Nicolas Nkoulou and Peter Etobo are forced to sit on the sidelines as they work their way back from their respective knocks. Joao Pedro could add fuel to the Hornets attack off the bench, with the Brazilian likely to be involved in some capacity after shaking off an injury. 

Juraj Kucka will also be ready to come on as a sub, providing some creativity for Hodgson's side going forward. Moussa Sissoko is captaining the side from midfield and will hope that his experience and power can give his side an edge in the heat of the battle. 

Watford starting line-up: (4-3-3, right to left) 1-Ben Foster (GK) — 2-Jeremy Ngakia, 15-Craig Cathcart, 22-Samir, 14-Hassane Kamara — 19-Moussa Sissoko, 6-Imran Louza, 8-Tom Cleverley — 23-Ismaila Sarr, 7-Joshua King, 25-Emmanuel Dennis

Watford subs (9): 26-Daniel Bachmann (GK), 27-Christian Kabasele, 11-Adam Masina, 5-William Troost-Ekong, 39-Edo Kayembe, 33-Juraj Kucka, 12-Ken Sema, 10-Joao Pedro, 29-Cucho Hernandez

How to watch Manchester United vs. Watford

  • Date: Saturday, Feb. 26
  • Time: 10 a.m. ET
  • USA TV channel: USA Network
  • USA streaming: fuboTV
  • Canada streaming: DAZN

USA: The match will be broadcast on USA Network (English) and Universo (Spanish) in the USA. Both those channels can be streamed on fuboTV, which is available to new users on a free trial.

Canada: The Premier League is available exclusively live and on demand on DAZN in Canada.

Man United vs. Watford betting odds

Odds courtesy of DraftKings

Goals could be flowing in this match, with both sides carrying attacking prowess that could lead to plenty of chances. And the odds point to just that with the over 2.5 goals at -140.

Man United has a list of attackers who could inflict damage on the relegation-threatened Hornets. Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo will more than likely be at the center of Man United's forward play and Anthony Elanga has proven himself to be a capable threat for the Reds, scoring twice in two games against Leeds United and Atletico Madrid. 

Conversely, Watford will be expected to carry a threat on the counterattack which could make for some nervy moments for Ralf Rangnick's men. Emmanuel Dennis has shown his ability as a clinical finisher in front of goal, netting nine times in the Premier League this season. The Nigerian forward will be desperate to reach double figures in today's clash. 

  • Moneyline: Man United (-265) / Draw (+400) / Watford (+750)
  • Spread: Man United -1.5 (+115) / Watford +1.5 (-130)
  • O/U 2.5 total goals: Over (-140) / Under (+115) 
  • Both Teams To Score: Yes (+100) / No (-125) 

Sean Markus Clifford