3rd March, 2016
Juan Mata’s late free-kick earned Manchester United a win over Watford to move them level on points with fourth-placed Manchester City.
United striker Marcus Rashford was quiet in the first half as Watford’s Odion Ighalo wasted two good chances.
But the hosts improved when Rashford switched places with Anthony Martial and the Frenchman won the free-kick which Mata curled in from 20 yards.
City have a game in hand on United, who earned a fourth successive win.
Had Ighalo not shot wide from Troy Deeney’s flick-on or chose to pass to his strike partner when David de Gea thwarted the Nigerian, the story of the match may have been very different.
But buoyed by the recent form of Rashford and Mata scoring his eighth goal of the season, the prospect of United reaching next season’s Champions League looks a distinct possibility after their city rivals lost 3-0 at Liverpool.
-How did United’s youngsters perform?-
It was less than a fortnight ago that the future of United boss Louis van Gaal looked in doubt following an embarrassing defeat at FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.
Since then the gloom has lifted around Old Trafford with Rashford playing a telling part in previous wins over Arsenal on Sunday and FC Midtjylland the previous Thursday by scoring twice in each game.
Stationed up front for this encounter, he struggled to find time and space to drive at the well-drilled Watford defence, who were superb at blocking the host’s efforts from distance.
Yet once Martial moved in from the wing, with Rashford replacing him there, the young Mancunian found the byline on several occasions and twice nearly created an opener.
It was because of the switch that Martial found himself positioned more centrally, drawing a foul from Miguel Britos as he bore down on goal, with United doing the rest.
Elsewhere, Tim Fosu-Mensah looked steady on his first United start in defence. He made several decent challenges and had a running battle with Deeney which he coped with well.
-Was this another boring United win?-
The hosts chalked up 11 successive goalless first halves at Old Trafford before the run ended on 2 February.
And although this game started the potential for another run to begin, Watford began faster in both halves and capitalised on some sloppy passing at the back from the hosts, which contributed to an absorbing match.
Only Watford’s profligacy kept the scoreline goalless until Mata’s late intervention and Deeney must have been fuming at Ighalo’s attempts to end a run of only one league goal in 2016.
The defeat means that Watford are yet to register a win over top-five opposition this season, but they will rarely come as close as this as Ben Watson caused danger from several corners and Etienne Capoue, who had a decent penalty appeal, was excellent in midfield.
Perhaps their best chance came when Sebastian Prodl headed wide from two yards, under pressure from United defender Matteo Darmian.
The Hornets have now lost 10 successive games against United but with only three points needed to reach the magic 40-point mark, there is no danger of relegation and if Ighalo finds his range, they can push onto a lofty position in the league after promotion last season.