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Having set his team on a war footing with
an eve-of-the-game attack on the 'compulsive liars' on the punditry
couches, Jose Mourinho sent out his heavy artillery.
Manchester
United were big and they got bigger with every change Mourinho made, as
they dug in, determined to avoid the fate of Tottenham at Vicarage
Road.
Spurs had been beaten at set-pieces having been softened up by Watford's direct style but not United.
Manchester United centre back Chris Smalling scores their second goal of the game against Watford in the 38th minute
e
Smalling celebrates doubling United's lead over Watford in the first half of the Premier League clash with his team-mates
Smalling turns away to celebrate scoring United's second goal of the match against Watford on Saturday evening
They
were up for this one, fired up by the boss and his perceived injustices
and were two up at half-time, both goals from set-pieces and heavily
influenced by the aerial prowess of Marouane Fellaini.
Mourinho may be accused of many things but rarely the failure to make a plan.
Romelu Lukaku scored the first and Chris Smalling the second with a fabulous flash of skill, twist and volley in a tight area.
Forward Andre Gray pulls one goal back for the hosts against United in the second half of the Premier League encounter
Watford's Gray celebrates scoring their first goal of the game in the 65th minute of the match against United on Saturday
Gray celebrates after getting his side back into the Premier League contest in the second half on Saturday evening
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Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring for Manchester United in the 35th minute. CLICK HERE for more from Sportsmail's Match Zone.
Andre
Gray pulled one back and Watford went in search of an equaliser with
United reduced to 10 men in the final seconds when Nemanja Matic tripped
Will Hughes and collected his second yellow card of the game.
David de Gea sprang to his left to make a splendid late save from Chrsitian Kabasele and Mourinho’s side celebrated the victory.
Three points to the haul and, in his own mind at least, another point proved. His team is fighting for him.
United's Nemanja Matic was sent off for two bookable offences during stoppage time as the visitors won 2-1 at Watford
United's Romelu Lukaku (centre) scores his side's first goal of the game during the Premier League encounter on Saturday
Lukaku beats Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster to open the scoring for United in the 35th minute of the Premier League match
Lukaku celebrates putting United ahead in the first half of the match against Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday
Lukaku is surrounded by his team-mates after breaking the deadlock in the 35th minute of the Premier League encounter
After
such an impressive start to the campaign there was no surprise to find
Gracia named an unchanged team for the fifth Premier League game.
Watford’s
win against Tottenham on their previous outing hinged on aerial
strength at set-pieces and Mourinho required little encouragement to
send out his giants.
United were
without Marcus Rashford, suspended after a red card at Burnley, and Luke
Shaw, not fit enough even for the bench after his injury on England
duty.
Fellaini prowled around on the
toes of Smalling and Victor Lindelof, often deep enough to be mistaken
for a third central defender.
Foster makes a save against United's Paul Pogba in the first half of the match which ended with United two goals to the good
United manager Jose Mourinho issues instructions on the touchline during the first half of the Premier League encounter
Just
ahead, either side of Fellaini, Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba clocked up
the miles. These five six footers worked hard to ensure they were in
the air-drop zone when Watford sought to deliver crosses from the
full-backs.
United were sharp and a
positive from the start with Shaw’s replacement Ashley Young, regularly
jeered on his latest return the club where his career began, effective
in attack on the left as the visitors gathered momentum, kicking down
the Vicarage slope.
Young’s early pass
to Lukaku forced Ben Foster into action. The goalkeeper smothered at
Lukaku’s feet and saved again from Pogba’s crisp drive from the fringes
of the penalty area.
David de Gea’s
first contribution was to deny Will Hughes from a similar distance. His
second was a smart reflex save to push over Troy Deeney, teed-up by
Roberto Pereyra, before they were overwhelmed.
Watford's Troy Deeney and Jose Holebas protest with referee Mike Dean after United's Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring
Watford's Andre Gray (left) and United's Nemanja Matic battle for the ball during the Premier League clash at Vicarage Road
d
Watford striker Deeney unleashes a shot as Smalling tries to block the effort during the match on Saturday evening
Alexis
Sanchez saw a strike ruled out for offside and Foster saved again from
the Chilean but the home team yielded to the pressure when Lukaku found
the breakthrough, 10 minutes before the interval.
Watford failed to clear a free-kick completely after it was headed square across the goalmouth by Fellaini.
The
ball found its way to Young on the left, and his cross was deflected,
skipped up off the turf and evaded everyone except Lukaku who was able
to make contact with his hip and divert it beyond Foster.
It
was certainly scruffy, bobbling into the far post before spinning over
the line, and Watford found something to argue about. Their protests
were led by left-back Jose Holebas, but replays showed there was no
offside offence.
Deeney and United's Smalling challenge for the ball in the air during the league fixture at Vicarage Road on Saturday
The
goal would stand, Lukaku’s fourth of the season, and Manchester United
refused to ease off. Foster was forced into two more fine saves to keep
Pogba out, one either side of the second goal, scored after more chaos
caused by Fellaini at a set-piece.
This
time it was Young’s corner swung deep towards the tall Belgian who
nodded the ball towards Smalling, the centre-half who received it on his
chest with Daryl Janmaat for company, swivelled and hooked a volley
past the ‘keeper from close range.
Mourinho
scrambled from his seat to celebrate, pumping his fist. Until this
point, he had preferred to stay mostly out of sight as the travelling
fans sang his name.
A second goal for
his team seemed significant, although Watford summoned a spirited
response in the second half and found a way back into the contest when
Gray pounced for his second goal of the season.
Watford's Will Hughes (left) shoots towards goal during the Premier League match at Vicarage Road on Saturday evening
Abdoulaye
Doucoure, far more influential in midfield after the interval, forged
through an inside left channel and cut a low cross towards the penalty
spot. Gray was first to arrive in the vacant space and applied a firm
side-footed finish which faded away from De Gea’s reach.
The
home crowd were revived by the prospect of another thrilling comeback.
Gracia’s team poured forward, taking risks at the back.
Manchester United wasted good opportunities on the break and centre-halves Kabasele and Craig Cathcart made key challenges.
This time there was no sting in the tail.
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