Maguire insists Jesse Lingard should have scored for Manchester United

England international Harry Maguire has said that compatriot Jesse Lingard should have found the net for Manchester United during the club’s 2-0 Premier League at Watford. The Red Devils had the chance to open the scoresheet early in the game but Lingard squandered a one-on-one with goalkeeper Ben Foster as he chipped his effort over the bar.

In the second half, the Hornets were the better team during the early stages but ultimately the Red Devils were the reason for their own downfall. A David de Gea blunder contributed to the opening goal and just five minutes later, they conceded a penalty which Troy Deeney comfortably slotted into the net.

Following the game, Maguire partly put the blame on Jesse Lingard for the defeat and suggested that United would have controlled the game with the opening strike. He added that the club were still not good enough on the day and they need to work harder in training to turn things around ahead of the New Year.

He told: “He knows he has to score. That was a big chance in the game. The first goal is crucial. I missed one against Newcastle and we went on to lose. He has missed it, we moved on. We still had to go on and win the game but we didn’t. We were not good enough and we have to improve. It is something we cannot put our finger on. We are working hard in training. It is disappointing.”

United are currently placed eighth on the table and they are now seven points behind Chelsea in the race for the fourth spot. On Boxing Day, they have a home game against Newcastle United but that won’t be straightforward, particularly with the Magpies tending to possess a strong defensive resolve when they face the elite teams in the Premier League.