Bruno Fernandes scored one and had a hand in the other two goals as Manchester United continued their recent upturn with a 3-0 Premier League victory over Watford at Old Trafford on Sunday.
January signing Fernandes capped a man-of-the-match performance in style with his first goal for the club, nonchalantly converting a penalty he had won after being fouled by Ben Foster shortly before half-time.
Troy Deeney had an equaliser ruled out by VAR following a handball by Craig Dawson, and Anthony Martial compounded the Hornets’ misery moments later with an exquisite chipped finish over Foster – his third goal in three games.
Fernandes then set up Mason Greenwood for United’s third, the teenager’s explosive finish off the underside of the bar confirming an impressive victory that moves Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side up to fifth, three points off fourth, and leaves Watford a point from safety in 19th.
Old Trafford paid tribute to an emotional tribute before kick-off to the late Harry Gregg, hero of the Munich Air Disaster, who passed away at the age of 87 last week.
The first half would follow a frustrating script for United, whose attempts to bypass the Watford press resulted in them surrendering possession in dangerous positions time and time again.
A desperate block from Luke Shaw and the side-netting were all that stood between Deeney and Abdoulaye Doucoure firing Watford in front before United were able to muster a notable attempt of their own.
When it came, it fell for the wrong player, with full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka lashing wide with the goal at his mercy after Foster had palmed a cross into his path.
The openings kept on falling for Watford though, with Doucoure drawing a fine save from David de Gea with a thumping near-post drive on the half hour. When another came United’s way, they couldn’t hit the target, with Fred curling their best chance wide from 18 yards.
But the game swung in the hosts’ favour four minutes before the interval. Fernandes was hauled to the ground by the on-rushing Foster, leaving referee Martin Atkinson with no option but to the point to the spot, and the Portuguese hopped forward before stroking his first goal for the club into the bottom corner.
It was a bitter pill for Watford to swallow after an impressive first-half performance, but things took a turn for the worse for the Hornets on 52 minutes, when Deeney’s equalising goal was ruled out for handball after a VAR review.
And United rubbed salt into Watford wounds six minutes later. Fernandes released Martial in behind the Watford defence and, after seeing his initial effort saved by Foster, the Frenchman regained possession and lofted an audacious effort over the exposed Hornets stopper.
Greenwood drew Foster into a save with his feet and Harry Maguire spurned a glorious headed opportunity from an inch-perfect Fernandes cross as United pushed for more goals, and the pressure told for the third time with 15 minutes remaining.
Greenwood and Fernandes broke away on the counter and exchanged passes before the promising youngster fired an emphatic third in off the crossbar to put an end to Watford’s valiant challenge.
