MAN UNITED 1, WATFORD 0
Juan Mata was Manchester United’s captain fantastic scoring a sublime free kick to finally overcome a spirited Watford at Old Trafford.
Little over seven minutes were left when the little Spaniard, skippering the side, secured three massive points for the Reds on a night when they produced a below-par performance against the Hornets.
United rode their luck at times and had Watford’s star striker Odion Jude Oghalo’s scoring touch not deserted him, they would have secured victory.
Thanks to Mata’s exploits, United drew level with Manchester City who lost 3-0 at Liverpool on an extraordinary night of results at the top with Tottenham losing at West Ham and Arsenal beaten at home by Swansea.
Suddenly the injury-decimated Reds, who fielded a team with an average age of 23, were the winners as they are only out of the Champions League places by virtue of an inferior goal difference to City after recording a fourth straight victory in league and cup, their joint best run of the season.
Manager Louis van Gaal admitted it was not a good performance from his side, blaming the blustery conditions.
“It was difficult to play good football and became a physical game. And when you saw the size of the Watford players it didn’t benefit us,” he explained.
Van Gaal added that Watford also pressed United high up the field forcing them to give away the ball.
The Dutchman described Mata’s goal as a “fantastic shot” adding four straight wins is fantastic bearing in mind their injury problems.
“We have done great in the last four games, but we are taking it step by step,” he said adding there is still a possibility to qualify for the Champions League and they are also in the quarter finals of them FA Cup and last 16 of the Europa League.
Van Gaal explained it will be tough given the injuries and they still have possibly 20 games to play having already completed 40 adding his Bayern Munich side only had 55 games when they reached the final of the Champions League.
He added the young players have made a massive impact in recent weeks explaining: “They have given us a lot of spirit and in the dressing room it is full of joy of laughter, and it is beautiful to see.”
United welcomed back Anthony Martial after injury while there was a first start for youngster Tim Fosu-Mensah. Incredibly van Gaal has given five youth-team players their first-team debuts in the last three games,
They replaced Jesse Lingard, who dropped down to the bench, and Michael Carrick who picked up a knock against Arsenal on Sunday.
Martial had the first chance for United after eight minutes, a free header from Ander Herrera’s free kick, but he could only direct it into the side netting when he ought to have hit the target.
Watford’s top scorer Ighalo then had a shot deflected narrowly wide in what was a lively opening.
United went close again when Juan Mata’s free kick was headed clear by Troy Deeney, but only to Morgan Schneiderlin’s volley from outside the box flew narrowly wide.
Ighalo missed a second clear-cut chance flashing a shot past the upright after Deeney headed on a cross from Etienne Capoue.
And Nigerian striker Ighalo, who has scored 15 goals for the Hornets this season, missed a third great opening when he burst clear in the right only for keeper David De Gea to spread himself well to block his shot.
Ighalo must have thought he was jinxed as late in the opening period another chance came his way after a defensive error. He was clean through only for De Gea to make another important block.
Watford began the second period where left off in the first and had three great chances to break the deadlock.
Capoue saw a venomous 35-yard drive dip just over the crossbar, Sebastian Prodl’s close-range header from a Ben Watson corner forced a great reaction save from De Gea and Ighalo curled another effort not far wide of the far post.
United were creating little, though Juan Mata forced a decent save from Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes with a fierce shot from outside the box.
Mata saw another effort fly just wide following a cut back from Herrera, but Watford defended well as United began to crank up the tempo.
United made their first change with 20 minutes left with Matteo Darmian replacing Marcos Rojo at left back. And not long after Lingard came on for Herrera.
Watford had a great chance to snatch victory with 10 minutes left when Prodl headed wide at the far post from two yards following a corner from Watson.
The deadlock was broken with eight minutes left when Miquel Britos fouled Martial just outside the box. The left back was booked and Watford were punished further when Mata curled a delightful free kick into the top corner for his eighth goal of the season.
Mata was substituted to a standing ovation in the 89th minute as he was replaced by Paddy McNair, United’s third and final change.