Bruno Fernandes scored his first Manchester United goal to help steer them to a 3-0 victory over relegation candidates Watford and move the Red Devils into a Champions League place.
The Portugese scored from the penalty spot in the first half before Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood finished the job in the second half for an impressive win at Old Trafford.
Victory for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side moved them above Tottenham into fifth place in the Premier League which, if Man City's European ban sticks, will see them qualify for the Champions League for next season.
New signing Fernandes produced a man-of-the-match performance and won and scored the opener from the penalty spot, via a nifty skip in his run-up before slotting beyond Ben Foster.
Watford had an equaliser ruled out by VAR at the start of the season half when Troy Deeney's goal was chalked off for a handball by Craig Dawson in the build-up - and that decision visibly deflated the visitors.
Martial was almost as cool as Fernandes as he clipped in a United second, before young Greenwood again showed a flash of his brilliance with a blistering finish that smacked the underside of the crossbar on its way.
Even Odion Ighalo nearly netted a goal on his home debut against his former club, who seem to have well and truly left the Nigel Pearson honeymoon period as they endure a torrid run of form that leaves the languishing in the drop zone.
United though, remain on the up-and-up, having exacted revenge for an embarrassing defeat at Vicarage Road a couple of months ago with a win that puts them in the driving seat for the Champions League.
Manchester United 3-0 Watford Opta stats
- Manchester United have won all seven of their Premier League games against Watford at Old Trafford, scoring 17 goals and conceding just two.
- Watford have never won an away league match against Man Utd in 13 attempts (D2 L11), losing each of the last nine in a row since avoiding defeat in November 1985 in a 1-1 draw.
- Watford have lost four of their last five games in all competitions (D1), they had only tasted defeat once in Nigel Pearson’s first eight matches (W4 D3).
- Manchester United are only the second Premier League team to be awarded 10+ penalties in consecutive seasons, after Crystal Palace (2017/18 & 2018/19).
- Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood has scored 11 goals in all competitions this season, the most of any Premier League teenager.
- Manchester United forward Anthony Martial has scored in three successive appearances in all competitions for the first time since September 2017.
- Bruno Fernandes is the first Manchester United player whose maiden Premier League goal for the club was a penalty.
- Bruno Fernandes has scored each of the last 13 penalties he has taken in top-flight football (12/12 with Sporting CP and 1/1 with Man Utd) since missing for Udinese in April 2016.
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