Manchester United stretched their impressive Premier League unbeaten streak with a convincing and comfortable win over Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday.
In command from start to finish, United looked at their best against Walter Mazzarri’s side, confidently taking the game to their visitors and supplying the clinical finishes required to pick up all three points.
Anthony Martial was the catalyst for the win, setting up Juan Mata for his opener before helping himself to a second half goal himself.
It was important for United to pick up all three points as they don’t play in the Premier League again until March with European and cup football coming to fore over the next few weeks. Fighting on four fronts, United continue to go from strength to strength under Mourinho.
Watford can take some positives from the match themselves but a lack of cutting edge in the final third cost them.
Here are the FIVE photos that summed up all the action…
Gomes’ great wall
Manchester United peppered Watford’s goal throughout the first half with only Heurelho Gomes able to stop the Red Devils taking an early lead.
The former Spurs goalkeeper played a starring role in this period, making a number of key saves before Mourinho’s men finally made the breakthrough.
He proved he still has what it takes to be a very effective Premier League shot stopper.
Mata making it happen
United eventually created a chance that couldn’t be denied, even by Gomes, when Juan Mata forged space for himself in the box to receive Martial’s fine cross. The young Frenchman’s contribution to the goal was superb, surging down United’s left hand side on the overlap to get in behind the Watford defence.
Picking out Mata expertly, the Spaniard couldn’t miss from 7 yards and slotted home without trouble. From that point on, the Red Devils never looked like losing.
Magic Martial
Anthony Martial was again at the heart of the action when he combined with Zlatan Ibrahimovic to find himself free in the box with an opportunity at goal. A consistently fine finisher, he made no mistake, smashing the ball into the back of the net.
It gave United the cushion they needed to prevent any drama in the second half, effectively killing the game off and allowing Jose Mourinho to make changes with an eye on a heavy schedule ahead.
Mourinho’s march
The journey Mourinho has taken Manchester United on since the summer has at times been a rocky one but even the most pessimistic fan has to admit he’s transformed the Red Devils into a side more akin to Sir Alex Ferguson’s than David Moyes’.
It’s a journey that only looks like ending with one thing, UEFA Champions League football. Finishing in the top four must be the key aim for Mourinho in the closing stages of the season. It would be a fantastic achievement.
Playing with style and confidence, United are a joy to watch right now.
They are contending for silverware in three other competitions too and if Mourinho can bring United deep into the Europa League and FA Cup then it has the potential to be one of the best United seasons for quite a while.
Wasteful Watford
Walter Mazzarri will find positives with his side’s performance but must be frustrated his side couldn’t make it stick in the final third.
They performed well on the counter-attack, effectively bringing the ball forward from defence, but that lack of cutting edge when approaching Man United’s box cost them dear. They were unable to find the final pass or the shot at goal to really punish Mourinho’s side and made it all too easy for United to roll them over.
Still, it’s a tough shift at Old Trafford and the manager showed his appreciation at the end to the travelling Watford fans.