WATFORD 1, MANCHESTER UNITED 2
Under-fire Manchester United secured a vital win away at Watford thanks to a superb injury time save from David De Gea after Nemanja Matic was sent off in a frenetic finale.
Set piece goals by Romelu Lukaku and Chris Smalling in three first half minutes proved vital as the Reds survived a second half onslaught by the Hornets who pulled one back through Andre Gray after 65 minutes and could have hit an equaliser in stoppage time but for an intervention by United’s goalkeeper.
Reds boss Jose Mourinho, who was pictured tripping over a cordon at Wembley this week, ensured that his team avoided a similar fate at Vicarage Road despite a second half slump.
Making just one change from the side that beat Burnley before the international break, concussion victim Luke Shaw was replaced by Ashley Young against his former club, United should have blown away Watford during an intense first half.
Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba were denied by Ben Foster in the first half but Watford couldn’t prevent United from going into the lead.
Romelu Lukaku scored his fourth goal of the season for Manchester United to put them into the lead after 35 minutes when Watford failed to clear a Reds free kick by Young who sent the ball back into the mix for the Belgian to bundle home off his chest.
Chris Smalling volleyed in from close range to double that lead after he chested down Marouane Fellaini’s flick on from a corner before connecting for United’s second three minutes later.
Unfortunately, the Reds could not keep the intensity up and Watford were the better side for much of the second half, Abdoulaye Doucoure cut the ball back from the left and found an unmarked Andre Gray who thrashed the ball into the top corner to give Watford a fighting chance.
David De Gea had played his part in the game, saving a Troy Deeney effort early on, and seconds after Matic had been sent off for a second booking in injury time, the Spaniard clawed away a last gasp header by Christian Kabasele to ensure the points returned to Manchester.