De Gea howler gifts Watford shock win over dismal Manchester United

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Manchester United's Paul Pogba in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

WATFORD (Reuters) - A terrible blunder from Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea helped Premier League basement side Watford to a 2-0 victory on Sunday for their first home win of the season and maiden victory under coach Nigel Pearson.

The Spain keeper, who had conceded a soft goal in last week's 1-1 draw with Everton, allowed the weakest of shots from Ismaila Sarr through his hands in the 50th minute, putting Watford in front for the first time in a home game this season.

Senegalese winger Sarr was then tripped by United's usually reliable Aaron Wan-Bissaka and earned the penalty from which Troy Deeney doubled Watford's lead in the 54th minute, sending De Gea the wrong way and blasting into the net.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Manchester United's Marcus Rashford in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

United, who have failed to build on the momentum from back-to-back wins over Tottenham Hotspur and champions Manchester City earlier this month, produced yet another limp display and failed to hit the target in the first half.

United's fifth Premier League defeat of the season leaves them eighth on 25 points after 18 games, while Watford are still bottom but level on 12 points with 19th-placed Norwich City.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wrote off De Gea's costly error as a rare error but was scathing about his side's performance.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Watford's Ismaila Sarr in action with Manchester United's Fred REUTERS/David Klein

"It was a mistake, it happens in football and it is what we train for every day to make sure they don't happen again. David has been very good lately. It is just one of those things that happen," he told reporters.

"We started the game slow. The first half was very, very poor from both sides, it was too slow, like a testimonial. You have to earn every point on the pitch and today we didn't deserve that."

Jesse Lingard missed United's best chance when he attempted to lob Watford keeper Ben Foster when through on goal and hit the roof of the net.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Manchester United's David de Gea reacts REUTERS/David Klein

Club record signing Paul Pogba made his first appearance since facing Arsenal on Sept. 30 by coming on in the second half but failed to lift his side, who barely managed to trouble Foster until a late siege which also proved ineffective.

"We have to be better against these so called lower opposition sides who have a deep block," said United captain Harry Maguire.

"We were sloppy and gave the ball away numerous times. We were not good enough and we have to improve. It is something we cannot put our finger on."

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Manchester United's Marcus Rashford in action with Watford's Adrian Mariappa Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

(Reporting by Richard Martin, editing by Pritha Sarkar and Ian Chadband)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Manchester United's David de Gea reacts as fans look on Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Watford's Gerard Deulofeu in action with Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka REUTERS/David Klein

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Manchester United's Harry Maguire and teammates look dejected after the match REUTERS/David Klein

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Manchester United's David de Gea reacts after Watford's Ismaila Sarr scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Watford's Ismaila Sarr celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/David Klein

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Manchester United's Paul Pogba in action with Watford's Ben Foster Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Watford's Troy Deeney shakes hands with Manchester United's David de Gea after the match REUTERS/David Klein

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Manchester United's Juan Mata and Harry Maguire applaud fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Watford's Craig Cathcart celebrates with manager Nigel Pearson after the match as Manchester United's David de Gea looks dejected REUTERS/David Klein

Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Manchester United - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - December 22, 2019 Watford manager Nigel Pearson celebrates with Gerard Deulofeu REUTERS/David Klein