• David De Gea – 6. One of the easiest games he’ll have, and he didn’t have to save a shot until the second half. Getty Images
    David De Gea – 6. One of the easiest games he’ll have, and he didn’t have to save a shot until the second half. Getty Images
  • Aaron Wan Bissaka – 6. Recalled to start, and one of his best performances of a poor season for the full-back. Pushed forward but rightly brought off when he started to fade. AP
    Aaron Wan Bissaka – 6. Recalled to start, and one of his best performances of a poor season for the full-back. Pushed forward but rightly brought off when he started to fade. AP
  • Victor Lindelof – 7. Best United defender against Watford, not that he had much to do. Made an important tackle towards the end of the first half. AFP
    Victor Lindelof – 7. Best United defender against Watford, not that he had much to do. Made an important tackle towards the end of the first half. AFP
  • Raphael Varane – 6. Looked to be in full control, like his team, yet had no win to show for it. PA
    Raphael Varane – 6. Looked to be in full control, like his team, yet had no win to show for it. PA
  • Alex Telles – 6. A Premier League start for the Brazilian, but he can hardly say he deserves to keep it after a mediocre performance when the attacking side of his game was ineffective, despite getting in advanced roles. Did cross for Ronaldo who put the ball in the net – but was offside. Getty Images
    Alex Telles – 6. A Premier League start for the Brazilian, but he can hardly say he deserves to keep it after a mediocre performance when the attacking side of his game was ineffective, despite getting in advanced roles. Did cross for Ronaldo who put the ball in the net – but was offside. Getty Images
  • Fred – 5. Blocked a shot after three minutes. As United had 67 per cent of possession and had 22 shots to Watford’s 10, but only three of them were on target to Watford’s two. Came off as United pushed to score. AFP
    Fred – 5. Blocked a shot after three minutes. As United had 67 per cent of possession and had 22 shots to Watford’s 10, but only three of them were on target to Watford’s two. Came off as United pushed to score. AFP
  • Nemaja Matic – 7. Started after his impressive midweek performance in Madrid. Justified the decision as he was the best United player, the centre point and anchor for the side who passed the ball beautifully. Getty Images
    Nemaja Matic – 7. Started after his impressive midweek performance in Madrid. Justified the decision as he was the best United player, the centre point and anchor for the side who passed the ball beautifully. Getty Images
  • Anthony Elanga – 7. Man of the moment who played well and most of United’s attacks came down the right. He’s fast, direct and follows the instruction of his boss. He can beat a player and has excellent feet and close control. Shame he couldn’t score. PA
    Anthony Elanga – 7. Man of the moment who played well and most of United’s attacks came down the right. He’s fast, direct and follows the instruction of his boss. He can beat a player and has excellent feet and close control. Shame he couldn’t score. PA
  • Bruno Fernandes – 6. Worked hard, tried risky passes, lost the ball. His finishing has been poor in recent weeks and that much stayed true – he should have scored in the first half having been set up by Elanga. Failed to hit the target after Pogba set him up and again after Ronaldo set him up. AP
    Bruno Fernandes – 6. Worked hard, tried risky passes, lost the ball. His finishing has been poor in recent weeks and that much stayed true – he should have scored in the first half having been set up by Elanga. Failed to hit the target after Pogba set him up and again after Ronaldo set him up. AP
  • Paul Pogba – 6. Started on the left. Back heel flick was his best moment as he set up Elanga in a promising attack. But some decent link up play wasn’t sufficient for someone in his role as United couldn’t get the ball over the line. Getty Images
    Paul Pogba – 6. Started on the left. Back heel flick was his best moment as he set up Elanga in a promising attack. But some decent link up play wasn’t sufficient for someone in his role as United couldn’t get the ball over the line. Getty Images
  • Cristiano Ronaldo – 5. Hit the post after five minutes as United looked like they were going to steamroll Watford. It didn’t happen. Offside after he’d put the ball in. He was fouled and set up by Fernandes. Not his day. PA
    Cristiano Ronaldo – 5. Hit the post after five minutes as United looked like they were going to steamroll Watford. It didn’t happen. Offside after he’d put the ball in. He was fouled and set up by Fernandes. Not his day. PA
  • Jadon Sancho (Fred 62’) – 6. Bent a shot over but like most of United’s attempts, they didn’t hit the target. The best of the substitutes. AP
    Jadon Sancho (Fred 62’) – 6. Bent a shot over but like most of United’s attempts, they didn’t hit the target. The best of the substitutes. AP
  • Luke Shaw (Telles 74’) – 5. Little impact on the game. Getty Images
    Luke Shaw (Telles 74’) – 5. Little impact on the game. Getty Images
  • Marcus Rashford (Matic 74’) – 5. It’s not happening for him. Getty Images
    Marcus Rashford (Matic 74’) – 5. It’s not happening for him. Getty Images
  • WATFORD RATINGS: Ben Foster 8 - Had to deal with a lot of balls coming into the box and usually made the right decision. Watford fans took a sigh of relief when Foster clutched a late Fernandes strike with ease in stoppage time. EPA
    WATFORD RATINGS: Ben Foster 8 - Had to deal with a lot of balls coming into the box and usually made the right decision. Watford fans took a sigh of relief when Foster clutched a late Fernandes strike with ease in stoppage time. EPA
  • Hassane Kamara 8 - Tracked Wan-Bissaka well who looked certain to score had he got a proper connection with his header, and then had the difficult task of dealing with Marcus Rashford. A solid display overall. AP
    Hassane Kamara 8 - Tracked Wan-Bissaka well who looked certain to score had he got a proper connection with his header, and then had the difficult task of dealing with Marcus Rashford. A solid display overall. AP
  • Samir 8 - The Old Trafford crowd thought a goal was imminent as Bruno Fernandes wound up a shot but faced a magnificent block from Samir. The centre-back was willing to get hurt for his team and fought tirelessly for 90 minutes. Getty
    Samir 8 - The Old Trafford crowd thought a goal was imminent as Bruno Fernandes wound up a shot but faced a magnificent block from Samir. The centre-back was willing to get hurt for his team and fought tirelessly for 90 minutes. Getty
  • Craig Cathcart 8 - Read the play well and there was no nonsense with his play when clearing the danger. PA
    Craig Cathcart 8 - Read the play well and there was no nonsense with his play when clearing the danger. PA
  • Jeremy Ngakia 6 - A difficult test as United looked to burst quickly down the flanks and get balls into the box, and Ngakia gave a fair account of himself despite being replaced close to the hour mark. Getty
    Jeremy Ngakia 6 - A difficult test as United looked to burst quickly down the flanks and get balls into the box, and Ngakia gave a fair account of himself despite being replaced close to the hour mark. Getty
  • Tom Cleverley 7 - Tried to get Watford going in the right direction by showing calmness in possession, though that wasn’t always matched by his team mates. EPA
    Tom Cleverley 7 - Tried to get Watford going in the right direction by showing calmness in possession, though that wasn’t always matched by his team mates. EPA
  • Imran Louza 8 - Frustrated Manchester United tactics frequently with impressive anticipation in the middle of the park. EPA
    Imran Louza 8 - Frustrated Manchester United tactics frequently with impressive anticipation in the middle of the park. EPA
  • Moussa Sissoko 7 - Often broke up the play and ensured United couldn’t get shots off from around the penalty box. Helped withstand constant pressure from Rangnick’s side. EPA
    Moussa Sissoko 7 - Often broke up the play and ensured United couldn’t get shots off from around the penalty box. Helped withstand constant pressure from Rangnick’s side. EPA
  • Joshua King 6 - Worked hard to lead the line but struggled to get frequent services. Just one shot on goal before he was replaced for Ken Sema. EPA
    Joshua King 6 - Worked hard to lead the line but struggled to get frequent services. Just one shot on goal before he was replaced for Ken Sema. EPA
  • Emmanuel Dennis 6 - Watford weren’t going to get many chances at Old Trafford which means the forwards have to make the most of the time with possession, Dennis was too wasteful on the day that didn’t help stop the home side’s pressure. AP
    Emmanuel Dennis 6 - Watford weren’t going to get many chances at Old Trafford which means the forwards have to make the most of the time with possession, Dennis was too wasteful on the day that didn’t help stop the home side’s pressure. AP
  • Ismaila Sarr 6 - A spectacular effort with what looked to be the final kick of the game could have stolen all three points . The Senegal star worked hard, though it was difficult with not many yellow shirts getting forward. Getty
    Ismaila Sarr 6 - A spectacular effort with what looked to be the final kick of the game could have stolen all three points . The Senegal star worked hard, though it was difficult with not many yellow shirts getting forward. Getty
  • SUBS: Ken Sema (King 63) 7 - Introduced just after the hour mark and spent most of his time defending, helping stop the flow of United’s constant attacks. EPA
    SUBS: Ken Sema (King 63) 7 - Introduced just after the hour mark and spent most of his time defending, helping stop the flow of United’s constant attacks. EPA
  • Christian Kabasele (Ngakia 63) 7 - Came on to shut out the game and did just that. Juraj Kucka (Cleverley 80) - N/A. AFP
    Christian Kabasele (Ngakia 63) 7 - Came on to shut out the game and did just that. Juraj Kucka (Cleverley 80) - N/A. AFP

Sport

Football

Manchester United v Watford player ratings: Ronaldo 5, Pogba 6; Foster 8, Sarr 6

Ralf Rangnick's team see top four hopes diminish after draw at Old Trafford

Andy Mitten
Andy Mitten

February 27, 2022

  • English
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Manchester United were left ruing a missed opportunity as a goalless draw to lowly Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday dented their hopes of a top four finish in the Premier League.

United are currently on 47 points in fourth place, two points ahead of Arsenal but the Gunners have three games in hand. The two points dropped could prove crucial in United's attempt to get into next season's Champions League.

Ralf Rangnick's side were booed off the field at the end of the draw against relegation-threatened Watford. Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo continued his indifferent form as he struck the post in the fifth minute with a shot on the turn and then had an effort ruled out for offside.

Anthony Elanga wasted a good opportunity after the break, firing wide after being put in by a flick from Paul Pogba but Roy Hodgson's Watford defended with purpose.

Interim United manager Rangnick bemoaned his team's finishing.

"We did everything apart from score. It's hard to take that result. In the end, if you miss that many chances it is difficult to win the game. We were in full control for almost the whole game, we didn't allow them hardly any counter attacks," said the German.

"We need to be sharper in front of goal, you can hardly create more chances than we did today. In the end it is a very frustrating afternoon," he added.

To see ratings for each player, check out the picture gallery above. United ratings provided by Andy Mitten; Watford by Adam Brown.

Updated: February 27, 2022, 5:54 AM