FERGIE TIME IS BACK FOR LINGARD
THERE ARE no real suggestions that Manchester United have fully regained their canny knack of striking late just yet, but Jesse Lingard believes the famous spirit of old could be back.
Alex Ferguson’s United were once renowned for pouring forward in a bid to win games they had no right to, a trait which has been lost since the Scot’s retirement two years ago.
Troy Deeney’s 90th minute own goal at Watford is only the second time they have clinched three points in the final five minutes under Louis van Gaal. The other came against Newcastle at St James’ Park in March, with Lingard — whose sharp turn and shot proved key in Deeney’s eventual misfortune — hoping they continue to chase games.
‘The thing about United is we have a fighting spirit and are always known for comebacks,’ the 22-year-old said. ‘We saw that here. We just needed to plug on for five minutes.
‘As soon as the ball came back to me I was going to shoot and hope someone was at the back post.’
Bastian Schweinsteiger was, knocked it back across goal only for Deeney to accidentally bundle past Heurelho Gomes minutes after Watford had equalised. Lingard claimed Van Gaal had drummed the importance of those closing moments into his players.
Van Gaal did however watch Phil Jones and Ander Herrera hobble off either side of half-time, with both set to miss Wednesday’s Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven as United’s injury crisis worsens.
‘We have a lot of injuries now so we have to adapt to that,’ Lingard added. ‘As long as we get enough wins as we can over Christmas that’s the main thing.’
Lingard — who was in and out of the Derby County side during a loan spell earlier this year — admitted to pinching himself at how his career has snowballed over the last four weeks: eight games for United and an England call-up.
‘It feels like [in] a month everything has changed!’ he said. ‘Apparently I was on standby [for England] but I didn’t know. I got the call Saturday night and went down. I’m not going to turn that down. It’s a massive honour to get called up by England and it is just a shame I did not get any minutes.
‘Roy Hodgson said I was there on merit having done well for United and hopefully I can be there.’
Watford were fortunate to be only one goal behind at half-time but the Hornets rallied in the second period and deserved their spotkick after Rojo swiped through the back of Odion Ighalo.
Deeney slammed the penalty down the middle but five minutes later inadvertently restored United’s lead after he bundled home Bastian Schweinsteiger’s cross.
‘It was painful to lose in extratime because I think we deserved to draw,’ Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores said. SUPER STAT: Troy Deeney’s goal was the first United had conceded in 641 minutes. WATFORD (4-4-2): Gomes 6.5; Nyom 5 (Paredes 69, 6), Cathcart 6, Britos 6, Anya 6; Capoue 7.5, Watson 5.5, Abdi 6.5, Deeney 7; Jurado 4.5 (Ake 45, 6), Ighalo 6.5. Booked: Watson. Scorer: Deeney (pen) 87. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 7; Young 7, Jones 7.5 (McNair 69, 6), Smalling 7, Blind 6; Schneiderlin 8.5, Schweinsteiger 7.5; Mata 6.5 (Pereira 79, 6), Herrera 6.5 (Rojo 25, 5.5), Lingard 7; Depay 8. Booked: Young, Lingard. Scorer: Depay 11, Deeney (og) 90. Man of the match: Morgan Schneiderlin. Referee: Robert Madley 6.