A header from Scott McTominay early in the first half was enough to send the home side through to the Fa Cup fourth round in a close encounter at Old Trafford.
The captain for the night opened the scoring with four minutes on the clock when he got on the end of Alex Telle’s corner. The number 39 guided his effort into the ground which allowed it to fly past the Watford goalkeeper’s far post.
Watford were on the back foot for the first 15 minutes but started to grow into the game and got their first big chance of the half not long after the 16 minute mark when a ball over the top was met by Adam Masina who had his effort saved by Dean Henderson at close range.
Juan Mata had a chance a few minutes before halftime to double United’s advantage when he was played through by Donny Van De Beek’s flick but unfortunately for the home side, the Spaniard couldn’t convert.
In the 67th minute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer felt forced into using two of his first team players in Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to add some much needed impotence into the game.
Rashford had the best chance of the last 20 minutes as he skipped past two Watford men on the left hand side before firing a tame shot towards goal which was easily kept out by Daniel Bachmann.
It’s a case of job done for Solskjaer’s side who are in the hat for round four of the Fa Cup but will been sweating over the fitness of Eric Bailly following his clash with Dean Henderson in the first half.
