Bruno Fernandes on target as Manchester United cruise past Watford with helping hand from VAR
Bruno Fernandes scored his first goal for Manchester United as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side cruised past relegation-threatened Watford at Old Trafford.
The January signing’s first-half penalty gave the hosts the lead before wonderful pieces of finishing from Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood after the break secured a 3-0 win.
Solskjaer reverted to a back four, with Mason Greenwood coming into the side to play wide on the right, while Scott McTominay was back among the substitutes having been out since Boxing Day with a knee injury.
Watford, meanwhile, had Ismaila Sarr back on the bench after a month out, with Craig Dawson replacing Adrian Mariappa as the only change to the side that drew at Brighton prior to the midseason break.
Troy Deeney wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring after a mix-up between Harry Maguire and Nemanja Matic, delaying his shot and allowing the covering Luke Shaw to make a crucial challenge, while Abdoulaye Doucoure tested David De Gea as the visitors made a bright start.
At the other end, Aaron Wan-Bissaka could only find the sidenetting after Daniel James’ cross was parried his way by Ben Foster, before the Welshman’s clever cutback found Fred, only for the Brazilian to bend wide.
It was James’ creativity that eventually helped break the deadlock shortly before half-time as he sent Fernandes scampering in behind. The Portuguese got a toe in ahead of the sliding Foster and took responsibility from the spot himself, sending the Hornets goalkeeper the wrong way to open his United account.
Watford thought they were level soon after the restart when Deeney bundled home after Dawson had diverted onto the woodwork, but VAR showed the ball had come off the defender’s arm.
Their misery was compounded just before the hour mark when Martial’s delightful scooped finish over Foster gave United breathing space Greenwood put the cap on an excellent day’s work when he bent home via the underside of the bar with 15 minutes to play.
Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, Matic, Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, James, Martial.
Subs: Bailly, Mata, Romero, Ighalo, McTominay, Chong, Williams.
Watford XI: Foster, Dawson, Kabasele, Cathcart, Masina, Capoue, Hughes, Pereyra, Doucoure, Deulofeu, Deeney.
Subs: Gomes, Mariappa, Cleverley, Welbeck, Chalobah, Gray, Sarr.
