MAN UNITED 3, WATFORD 0
New-boy Bruno Fernandes was the inspiration behind Manchester United win against Watford as the battle for the last Champions League place is hotting up.
The victory left the Reds, driven off by £46million Fernandes, fifth and only three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
Fernandes scored his first goal for the Reds and provided assists for Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood as the Reds erased painful memories of the 2-0 defeat at Vicarage Road in December.
It also extended United’s unbeaten run to six games in all competitions as they are finally achieving a level of consistency they lacked earlier in the campaign.
After the match it was Fernandes’ display which was the focus of intense scrutiny.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnited manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer described Fernandes as having the qualities of both Juan Sebastian Veron and Paul Scholes.
He said: “He is a mix of the two having the temperament of Veron and quality of Scholes.
“He risks playing balls like Veron did. If he does not hit you, at least he is looking for you.
“In today’s market, I think we have a good deal. He has come in, done really well and given everyone a boost. He has been a big piece of the jigsaw, an important piece and a big plus.”
Solskjaer added Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka had been big defensive signings last summer and they have now “nailed down” an attacking midfielder, a box-to-box player like Veron and Scholes.
He added it is no coincidence Martial is looking a re-energised player with Fernandes in the side.
Solskjaer added from the first minute of the first training session on day one he settled and demanded the ball.
United made six changes from the side that drew at Club Brugge in the Europa League.
Recalled were David De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Fernandes, Daniel James and Greenwood.
Significant, however, were the omissions from the matchday 18 of Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira who both featured in the 1-1 draw in Belgium.
Blustery conditions were clearly challenging and it took United almost 10 minutes to carve out their first chance when Greenwood shot straight at goalkeeper Ben Foster.
United survived a couple of early moments of defensive uncertainty as Watford were a threat offensively.
The Reds ought to have taken a 17th minute lead when Foster beat out a Daniel James cross but only as far as Wan-Bissaka who shot into the side netting from eight yards when he ought to have found then net.
Watford had the best chance of the match after half an hour when Abdoulaye Doucoure made a run and forced a decent save by De Gea with a shot from the edge of the box.
United had a decent chance when James cut the ball back to Fred who shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
The Reds made the breakthrough four minutes before the break when Fernandes opened his goalscoring account for the club following his big-money transfer from Sporting Lisbon.
Fernandes was put through on goal by James’ slide-rule pass only to be scythed down by Foster. He picked himself up to score from the spot as he maintained his perfect penalty record of 13 in a row,
The Portuguese almost made it two just before the break when he poked a shot wide after being set up by Anthony Martial.
Watford were denied a 52nd minute equaliser through VAR which ruled Craig Dawson handled in the build-up to Troy Deeney scoring.
Replays clearly showed the ball came off Dawson’s arm before it stuck the upright with Deeney, following up, converting the rebound.
Six minutes later and United doubled their lead through Martial.
He was released by Fernandes with Foster making an initial block. Martial picked up the rebound and cheekily chipped the keeper, a terrific solo effort, his third goal of the week and 15th of the season.
Greenwood’s shot was saved by the legs of Foster, James dragged an effort wide and Harry Maguire headed well wide when well placed as United went for a third goal.
United finally made it 3-0 with 15 minutes left when Greenwood scored his 11th goal of the season.
The teenager broke from midfield and exchanged passes with Fernandes before crashing a shot high into the net from 16 yards.
Watford, in fairness, kept battling and Gerard Deulofeu struck the bar with a shot from the left of the box.
United made all three changes with 11 minutes left as Martial, Fred and Greenwood made way for home debutant Odion Ighalo, the fit-again Scott McTominay and Tashith Chong.
And Ighalo almost opened his account after latching on a poor header by Adam Masina. The striker rounded Foster only to hit the upright from a tight angle.
Chong also went close shooting narrowly wide when he would have done better to pass with team-mates free to his left.