MAN UNITED 2, WATFORD 0
Manchester United’s routine home victory against Watford saw them become the first club to amass 2,000 points in the Premier League.
That landmark was achieved with goals from Juan Mata and Anthony Martial as the Reds at last climbed off six spot, if only for a few hours.
But after Watford won at Arsenal on their last away day, the Reds avoided another potential banana skin as they inched up to fifth place.
Indeed, the only criticism of United was that they did not win by a wider margin as they again lacked a lethal cutting edge.
United mustered 23 goal attempts, 11 on target, but scored only twice as their ratio of goals to chances leaves a lot to be desired.
That has been a failing throughout the campaign as they have struggled to convert the multitude of chances created in most matches.
It was a satisfactory afternoon for the Reds whose manager Jose Mourinho who saw his side extend its unbeaten run in the Premier League to 16 matches.
He said: “The first-half performance was amazing, fabulous and any other team you would have said it was art but, because it was mine, it was very good.
“In the second half we scored a second goal and killed it tactically because Watford are a very good team, very physical and direct so it was a good three points.”
There was also praise for Martial saying his starting spot was reward for training well in the last fortnight.
He explained: “Normally Marcus (Rashford) would play there, but he doesn’t need a confidence boost. Anthony needs to know his effort in training has been noticed, and that is why I gave him the chance, and he played well.”
There was also praise for the defence after a fourth straight clean sheet in the league.
And of the overall position, Mourinho said: “We have ana amazing unbeaten run, but should have more victories. We are trying to get more points and a better position.”
United made two changes from the side that started at Leicester on Sunday as the injured Marcos Rojo and Rashford were replaced by Daley Blind and Martial.
After a low-key opening, United gradually began to impose their authority on the game.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s 25-yard drive forced a diving save from Heurelho Gomes and that was followed by an effort from Martial that was deflected narrowly wide.
Watford’s first decent goal attempt came from Jose Holebas, a 20-yard shot that looked to be going in until it curled away at the last moment.
Paul Pogba then took aim from distance forcing Gomes into an athletic save to his left to pluck the shot out of the air.
Pogba then turned provider for Zlatan Ibrahimovic who chested the ball and volleyed well over fron only eight yards.
Antonio Valencia then cut the ball back to Pogba whose drive forced another good stop from Gomes as United did everything but find the net.
It was then Ander Herrera’s turn to blaze over after Blind cut the ball back from the left.
Ibrahimovic was denied by a super stop from Gomes as he met Blind’s cross.
United’s incessant pressure finally paid off as they made the breakthrough in the 32nd minute with a move started the finished by Mata.
Mata’s back heel released Mkhitaryan and he released Martial who cut the ball back from the left for Mata to fire from six yards for his ninth goal of the season.
Gomes was called into action again to keep out a well-struck shot on the turn from Mkhitaryan as United looked for a second goal.
United had a great chance to make it 2-0 immediately after the restart, but Martial pulled his shot wide.
And it looked as though all those misses could prove costly as Watford came within a whisker of equalising in the 53rd minute when United keeper David De Gea pulled off a brilliant save to keep out a free kick from Mauro Zarata.
United finally secured a two-goal cushion on the hour after a fine individual goal from Martial, his seventh of the season.
Set up by Mkhitaryan and Ibrahimovic, Martial weaves his way clear on the left, cut inside and checked before firing a shot low past Gomes.
Watford ought to have halved the deficit with 20 minutes left when substitute Daryl Janmaat blazed over from a M’Baye Niang cross.
United made their first change in the 72nd minute when Mata was replaced by Marouane Fellaini.
Mkhitaryan had the chance to add a third goal, but Gomes made a decent save to keep out his angled shot.
Rashford came on for Martial with 10 minutes left and immediately had a strike at goal, but it went straight at Gomes.
United made their final change in the last minute when Jesse Lingard took over from Mkhitaryan, but it was a case of running down the clock for the win that strengthend their hopes of a top-four finish.