Giggs Secures Win at the Vic

Winning Strike
By Chris O'Brien
September 2 2006

Mikael Silvestre and Ryan Giggs were on the scoresheet for Manchester United in a 2-1 win at Watford. The Red Devils were made to battle for the points, but maintain their winning start to the Premiership campaign and sit top of the table ahead of the international break.

Manchester United maintained their superb start to the Premiership season with a 2-1 win at Vicarage Road against the newly-promoted Watford.

The Red Devils, who remain top of the table after their third straight victory, made hard work of the three points as they squandered numerous opportunities and allowed the Hornets to get themselves back into the game.

Sir Alex Ferguson made changes to his starting XI following the mid-week win at Charlton. With Wayne Rooney still suspended, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer started up front alongside Louis Saha, with Ryan Giggs reverting back to the left flank. Michael Carrick made his first start for United alongside Darren Fletcher in midfield, with Cristiano Ronaldo occupying the right flank. Edwin Van Der Sar started behind a back four of Mikael Silvestre, John O'Shea, Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown.

Watford were forced to leave out goalkeeper Ben Foster, with United not prepared to see their out-on-loan youngster playing against them. Richard Lee started in goal for the Hornets, and he was soon called into action as he palmed a threatening Ryan Giggs cross behind for a corner.

United started brightly and looked keen to open the scoring early. Ronaldo powered a header wide from the resulting set-peice, but it only took 12 minutes for the visitors to find themselves in front. Mikael Silvestre was in nose-bleed territory as he found himself surging forward, picking up a through ball from Louis Saha and slotting a low effort home in striker's fashion.

Fergie's men pushed forward in numbers and the on-form Saha was unlucky to see his diving effort tipped away by Lee. However, despite dominating possession during the opening exchanges, Watford restored parity after 34 minutes. Damien Francis took advantage of some poor defending to convert an Anthony Young cross from close-range and, once again, the Reds had it all to do as the two teams went in level at the break. Saha, Ronaldo and Giggs were all guilty of missing chances late on in the half.

After resounding wins against Fulham and Charlton, Watford were the first team to test United's resilience. The League Cup holders passed this test thanks to an old head - Ryan Giggs - who netted the winning goal only seven minutes after the restart. Matthew Spring was guilty of a shocking back-pass to goalkeeper Lee, picked up by the Welshman who ran through and fired home his first goal of the season in what was his 600th start for the club.

United should have scored more. Lee in the Watford goal was certainly making an impression in the absence of Foster, denying Carrick, Giggs, Saha, Ronaldo and substitute Park as the league leaders looked to put the game beyond doubt. A third goal and the 'comfort zone' never came, but it didn't matter - three more points for the Red Army to celebrate and a clear lead at the top as we head into the international break. 

Full Time - Watford 1-2 Manchester United
Attendance - 19.453

Watford FC: Lee, Doyley, DeMerit, Shittu, Powell, Young, Francis, Mahon (Bangura 75), Bouazza (Spring 31), King, Henderson (Stewart 65).
Substitutes Not Used: Chamberlain, Mackay.

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Brown, Silvestre, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick (Richardson 75), Giggs, Saha, Solskjaer (Park 59).
Substitutes Not Used: Kuszczak, Evra, Rossi.