This was a disastrous day for Manchester United.
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The in-form Etienne Capoue struck his fourth goal in six games to put the hosts ahead at Vicarage Road and although Marcus Rashford levelled on 62 minutes with United’s first shot on target, Camilo Zuniga came off the bench and scored nearly immediately.
Deeney sealed victory in the fifth minute of stoppage time, drilling a penalty into the net after Fellaini had caught Zuniga.
Martial eventually came off holding his head after losing possession just before Watford’s first half and Mourinho criticised referee Michael Oliver for failing to give a free-kick.
It was a measure of the home side’s performance, along with the deterioration of United’s, that the equaliser came as a genuine surprise.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is, of course, the real star of the show.
Nordin Amrabat cut past United defender Luke Shaw and released Roberto Pereyra, who fed Zuniga with a cutback, allowing Capoue’s replacement to restore Watford’s lead.
“In the eyes of everyone, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a Manchester United fan or a Watford fan or whatever, it was obvious”.
Following the derby loss to Manchester City, United lost to Feyenoord in the Europa League and were expected to return to winning ways against Watford.
Jose Mourinho’s arrival has re-energised those around Old Trafford, with some big-name summer acquisitions helping increase a fervour largely missing under Louis van Gaal.
Mourinho went on to describe the decision not to award a foul on Martial following Miguel Britos’ challenge as “ridiculous” and reiterated his belief that factors outside of his control played a key part in the loss. The cohesion of the team isn’t there.
United paid an eye-watering 105million euros (£89million) to bring back a player who left them four years earlier in search of first-team football, with a further five million euros (£4.25million) due if certain targets are met.
The uncertainty over Wayne Rooney epitomises his problems.
Then there is Paul Pogba, who was granted a little more freedom to roam this week but became less prominent after an encouraging start.
Southampton moved out of the bottom three after Charlie Austin’s second-half volley secured a 1-0 win over Swansea. It was United’s first shot on target and they pushed on, applying the pressure with Gomes wonderfully throwing himself to his right to turn away a Ibrahimovic header.
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Capoue’s run of scoring form has come from nowhere.
