Watford vs. Manchester United: Score and Reaction from 2015 Premier League Match

Manchester United reclaimed top spot in the Premier League after securing a 2-1 victory over Watford on Saturday. Troy Deeney went from hero to villain at the game's close, cancelling out Memphis Depay's opener with an 87th-minute penalty, only to score a decisive own goal in added time.

The Red Devils temporarily boast a one-point cushion over Manchester City and Arsenal after sealing their third consecutive victory with the win at Vicarage Road.

Captain Wayne Rooney and young gun Anthony Martial were among the absentees for Louis van Gaal's side, but a string of deputies did enough to clinch a maximum-points haul on their trip to Hertfordshire.

It was hardly a vintage performance from United, and although the team will care about their three points first and foremost, Match of the Dave questioned the Premier League's quality following such a tight result:

"

If this United side is top of the table what does it say about the Premier League?

— Match of the Dave (@MatchoftheDave) November 21, 2015"

Manchester United went into Saturday's fixture having not conceded a goal in their previous five outings, and the early signs suggested the travelling outfit might be capable of a sought-after sixth clean sheet in Hertfordshire.

Van Gaal's side looked somewhat frantic as Quique Sanchez Flores' men endeavoured to get their own hold on the ball, but it took Depay just 11 minutes to put the visitors ahead.

Ander Herrera lofted an inch-perfect chip over the Hornets defence, and the Dutchman waltzed through the middle to side-foot his volley beyond Watford No. 1 Heurelho Gomes.

The strike was particularly well-timed considering the Telegraph's Paul Hayward confirmed Van Gaal's frustrations with the player just prior to kick-off, evidence Depay was taking his opportunity with glee:

The opener helped steady United's ship for the remainder of the opening 45 minutes, during which a long-range Etienne Capoue effort was the closest the home side came to breaking their deadlock.

However, a hamstring injury to Herrera saw Marcos Rojo come on, leading Daley Blind to move into midfield. Bleacher Report's Graham Ruthven highlighted the potential risk of United switching to a three-man defence:

David De Gea remained unfazed approaching half-time, and although Flores' men showed encouraging spark on the counter, the Red Devils succeeded in quelling most assaults before they turned into real threats.

A 1-0 lead at half-time moved United closer to sealing another astute defensive display, and the Telegraph's Ali Tweedale took note of another memorable landmark for Van Gaal's back line:

Memphis' bright performance continued in the second period as he came close to setting up Jesse Lingard for the team's second of the day within a minute of the restart, with the youngster forcing a terrific save from Gomes.

United continued to press, but it was around the hour mark when Watford began to find their feet, and Deeney stung De Gea's mitts with an effort from distance that the goalkeeper was glad to see hit straight at him.

The Hornets tried with all their might to get hotshot Odion Ighalo through on goal in the hopes of finding his eighth goal of the season, but United's packed midfield made it difficult to find time on the ball.

Watford grew desperate in their search for an equaliser as the full-time whistle edged within sight, and Eurosport's Alexander Netherton compounded their woes by claiming they were United's worst opponents of the campaign so far:

But Watford did their best to refute such assertions, and the home support was given a much-needed lift as the Hornets applied pressure through the likes of Almen Abdi and Deeney.

Deeney forced De Gea into a series of reaction saves, earning the praise of football writer Liam Canning, although the goalkeeper was partly fortunate to have those efforts hit straight in his direction:

Watford's persistence paid off, and it was Deeney who stepped up to take a spot-kick after substitute Rojo was rightly penalised for a foul in the area, making a share of the spoils a distinct possibility.

Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News criticised Rojo's performance, noting this wasn't the first time the Argentina international might have cost his side points:

They stayed level for just three minutes, however, after Bastian Schweinsteiger, looking to score his first goal for United, pelted a ball across Gomes' goal. The sliding Deeney got the final touch, with not enough time remaining for a second equaliser.

Manchester United's attention now turns back to the Champions League as they prepare for Wednesday's home fixture against PSV Eindhoven in the hopes of extending their lead at the summit of Group B.

Stephen Pond/Getty Images

Saturday's win gives the club some assurance they're heading in the right direction under the management of Louis van Gaal, whose goal-shy reign has encountered some criticism this season.

Following the 2-1 defeat at Leicester City earlier in November, this marks the first time Watford have lost back-to-back Premier League games this season, but the top-flight new boys will hardly be at panic stations just yet.

The Hornets next travel to basement outfit Aston Villa on Nov. 28, and they'll hold high hopes of getting their campaign back on track.

Post-Match Reaction

Jon Super/Associated Press

United were unable to stretch their streak of clean sheets in their trip to Watford on Saturday, but a 2-1 win was sufficient to put them top of the Premier League, even if only for a few hours.

It was Schweinsteiger's driven shot that forced Deeney to touch in a vital, late own goal, and the Germany captain told BT Sport fortune had its part in the result (via BBC Sport):

"

In football you always have 90 to 93 minutes. You always have to believe. There was a bit of luck but we are happy to get the three points. You have to sniff a little bit of danger, the angle was not so easy but of course he touched the ball.

The three points was very important for us. Next match we play Leicester, difficult, but if we win that too then we are happy in the Premier League.

"

The victory didn't come without its share of scary moments for the away outfit, and it was the second half in particular that De Gea was called upon to keep Watford's guests in the lead.

Schweinsteiger went on to note the impact of his team-mate between the sticks, with De Gea yet again to thank for saving his side's skin at times, albeit without the clean sheet: "De Gea is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. We are happy that he stayed here. He made a lot of good saves and you need a good goalkeeper when you want to win something."