Manchester United beat Watford 2-0 at Old Trafford to make it 16 Premier League games without defeat and climb into fifth place in the table.
The Red Devils largely had Anthony Martial to thank for the victory, as the Frenchman set up Juan Mata's opener and converted for the second on the hour mark.
Daryl Janmaat and Mauro Zarate both came close for the visitors across the 90 minutes, but in the end United did enough to prolong their run without defeat in league competition.
Relive how the match unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Manchester United and Watford at Old Trafford. The Red Devils head into this match unbeaten in 15 top-flight outings, but a league-high nine draws this term - the majority of them coming on home soil - has kept them outside of the elusive top-four spots. The visitors have enjoyed and upturn in fortunes in recent weeks, meanwhile, beating Arsenal and Burnley to climb into 10th.
Just five points separate five teams between second and sixth at the start of play on this hectic afternoon of Premier League football, with the pressure on Man United and Arsenal to make the most of the fact that two of the other sides in the hunt for Champions League football next season - Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool - face off later today. Plenty to get through between now and kickoff at Old Trafford, so let us get straight into things by checking out some confirmed team news.
TEAM NEWS!
MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Blind; Pogba, Herrera; Mata, Mkhitaryan, Martial; Ibrahimovic
WATFORD XI: Gomes; Cathcart, Kaboul, Prodl, Britos; Cleverley, Capoue; Niang, Zarate, Holebas; Deeney
Starting with a look at the home team, manager Jose Mourinho has gone with two changes from last weekend's 3-0 win over Leicester City. Despite talking up Marcus Rashford in the build-up to today's game, claiming that it would be wrong to leave him out of the side, the Portuguese has done exactly that by bringing in outcast forward Anthony Martial for a rare start. Far from his Old Trafford career being over, the former AS Monaco man has a chance to prove his worth this afternoon.
The other of Mourinho's two changes sees injured full-back Marcos Rojo drop out, with Daley Blind the player to take his spot in an otherwise unchanged backline. Phil Jones remains absent with a bruised foot, so Eric Bailly continues to partner Chris Smalling at the back, while on the right the effervescent Antonio Valencia will maraud up and down that right flank. There is a start, inevitably, for Zlatan Ibrahimovic up top, as he aims to prolong a record that has seen him score six in 10 against Walter Mazzarri-managed sides.
Wayne Rooney has returned to the United squad following an illness bug that kept him out of the Leicester match, but his hopes of adding to three goals and two assists in games against Watford will have to wait. The big news as far as the Red Devils are concerned is that Martial, and not Rooney, is preferred to Rashford on the left of the hosts' three-man attacking midfield. Further back, Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba retain their places in the engine room.
In terms of the visitors, Mazzarri has made just the one alteration from last weekend's 2-1 win over Burnley at Vicarage Road. Miguel Britos comes back into the side in place of Valon Behrami, presumably meaning that Jose Holebas will occupy a more advanced position on the left-hand side. If that is to be the case, Watford will likely go with four at the back this afternoon, as opposed to five-man system we have seen utilised in the past.
Troy Deeney is fit and firing for the Hornets once again after bagging in each of his last three Premier League outings, but not since December 2015 has he gone four in a row. There is no place in the squad for Christian Kabasele, however, despite reports suggesting that he had overcome a muscle injury and was in line to start at Old Trafford. Elsewhere, Nordin Amrabat has returned to training but is not involved today.
Arguably the most exciting player in this continental Watford side is January arrival M'Baye Niang, who scored one and set up another last weekend to help his side to a 2-1 win over Burnley. The AC Milan loanee was also performed well at the Emirates Stadium on his debut, despite taking part in just a couple of training sessions with his new teammates beforehand. Niang will provide support for Deeney today, as the Hornets go in search of another big away scalp.
BENCH WATCH!
MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Romero, Darmian, Carrick, Fellaini, Lingard, Rashford, Rooney
WATFORD SUBS: Arlauskis, Mariappa, Janmaat, Behrami, Doucoure, Success, Okaka
No room for Rashford in the United XI today, then, and Rooney is also still on the outside looking in after recovering from illness. This is essentially the Red Devils' strongest side in the view of many, with Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini providing defensive midfield support, and Jesse Lingard an option for out wide if required. Watford are missing a couple of squad players through injury, meanwhile, but Behrami is the one player to drop out from the win against Burnley.
In the same way that Manchester United supporters were calling out for a change in formation early in the season, essentially to get the best out of record purchase Paul Pogba, those same fans were desperate to see Anthony Martial given a run of games in the side. Marcus Rashford, talked up by Jose Mourinho this week, drops out, as does the injured Marcos Rojo to be replaced by Daley Blind. Watford make just the one alteration, meanwhile - Miguel Britos coming in for Valon Behrami in what looks like a changed formation.
Man United head into this match sitting sixth in the table, 14 points adrift of Chelsea but just five points off Tottenham Hotspur and now Arsenal. The Gunners have just defeated Hull City 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in a relatively tight contest, which you can read more about with this on-the-whistle report courtesy of Darren Plant. There is now added pressure on the Red Devils to claw themselves back into contention.
It is fair to say that Chelsea look likely to run away with the title, even with three months of the season left to play, but that tussle for three of the remaining Champions League berths is going to go right down to the wire. United have been on the outside looking in for far too long now, but this could well be the weekend that they finally move out of sixth place, as Liverpool face Spurs in a top-six showdown at Anfield later today.
It is difficult to truly sum up United's form since the turn of the year as, despite prolonging their unbeaten run they recently drew three in a row - including back-to-back against Stoke City and Hull City - to remain well out of the title picture. The mood remains positive, however, even if the Red Devils did fail to overcome strugglers Hull here in their last home outing; a frustrating goalless draw in that one, with Juan Mata missing the best chance of the night, leaving them in sixth.
That has been the Red Devils' biggest downfall in Mourinho's first season at the helm, as nine draws - a Premier League high - has ultimately made this a frustrating campaign. The vast majority of those stalemates have come in games that United have dominated, particularly in the first third of the season, with a lack of wins between August and December seeing them play catch-up ever since. Since the festive period, though, only Chelsea have accrued more points than the Red Devils.
United are now unbeaten in 15 league matches, winning eight and drawing seven of those - by far their best run of form since Sir Alex Ferguson retired nearly four years ago. That run extends to 18 games without defeat at Old Trafford but, again, a third of those have ended all square; Hull, West Ham, Burnley and Stoke all leaving here with a share of the spoils this term. It is far from the fortress of old, but not losing games is certainly a good starting point.
Taking games in all competitions into consideration, United have suffered one defeat in their last 21 matches - even that mattered little as they had already done enough in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi to overcome Hull. The Red Devils turn attention back to European competition next week with the return of the Europa League - and a double-header with French side St-Etienne - as well as games against Blackburn Rovers in the last 16 of the FA Cup and Southampton in the final of the EFL Cup.
It is very much all systems go for United, then, leading to the inevitable fixture complaints from Mourinho, but as the Portuguese said himself he would much rather have many fixtures as it ultimately means the season remains alive. With three months to go, the Red Devils are still on course for a quadruple of sorts - success in the FA Cup, EFL Cup, Europa League and a top-four finish in the Prem. No trophy for the latter, granted, but still a good achievement.
Due to their cup commitments, United do not actually play another Premier League game after today until March 4 when welcoming Bournemouth to Old Trafford. Looking further ahead, the Red Devils have a nice run of league fixtures to come between now and the middle of March, when they next face a top-four rival in Chelsea. Mourinho will simply be focused on Watford for now, though, knowing that a win today will make them the first Premier League team to amass 2,000 points - quite some milestone!
Victory for Arsenal in the day's early kickoff against Hull City leaves Manchester United five points adrift of both Tottenham Hotspur and the Gunners, the latter of whom have now played a game more, while fourth-placed Manchester City are four points better off and Liverpool just one. The Red Devils have been in sixth place for what feels like an eternity now, but they could very well end the day one spot higher.
It has been a mixed season for Watford, meanwhile, as a positive start to Mazzarri's tenure was followed up by a torrid few months that saw wins evade the Hornets, prompting numerous questions for the Italian to fend off about his future. The club's backers stood by the experienced manager, rightly so, and have been rewarded with two wins from two to climb back into the top half of the division. Still a few months to go, but the Londoners will now fancy staying in the top top.
Watford won just one of 10 games prior to victories over Arsenal and Burnley in quick succession, the former of which stands out as one of the shocks of the season at a ground in which they had never previously won in the Premier League. To flip the stats slightly, as is often the case when the mood around a club changes, the Hornets are now unbeaten in four league matches when including draws against Middlesbrough and Bournemouth. It has been an end to relegation worries for good, and now the focus is on sealing a top-half finish for the first time.
Mazzarri's men did crash out of the FA Cup at the hands of third-tier opponents Millwall recently, however, which has proved to be the nadir. That looked like ending their season in many ways, with little else to play for, but with West Ham - their opponents next weekend - just one point better off they still have a big target to aim for. This match is the second in a real tough run of away games, with Chelsea to come in a fortnight's time.
DID YOU KNOW? A win today will make it the third on the bounce for Watford for the first time since December 2015 when they went on to win four in succession. Victory will also make them just the ninth team in Premier League history to do the double over opponents Manchester United, having won the reverse fixture at Vicarage Road five months ago.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! That 3-1 victory for Watford at The Vic in September was their first Premier League points ever against Manchester United, having lost the previous five encounters. The shock win also ended a run of 11-consecutive defeats to the Red Devils in all competitions, but they Hornets are still to win at Old Trafford in the league - a similar stat to the one they busted at Arsenal not so long ago.
With kickoff at Old Trafford now less than 10 minutes away, it is time to turn attention to some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Jose Mourinho: "The moments are a bit different because that moment was a period where we lost the match before, I think against Manchester City. In this case we are having I don't say the perfect results because we have many draws, but we are in the moment of being unbeatable for a long time, so we are positive. But we know that the game is going to be very difficult. This is what matters and I know that they are very difficult. Walter is a very good coach, the team is very well-organised.
Walter Mazzarri: "I said it after [our last game] that a great manager like Mourinho would do well in the end with United, and he's showing it now. The season is very long and it can vary and change. He was a complete gentleman [after United's defeat in September]. I saw him after the game, we joked about some things. I was the same towards him. We have mutual respect and we try to do the best with the teams we've got. Nothing has changed in our relationship.
Mourinho pointing out that United head into this match in a better frame of mind compared to the reverse meeting, which many will argue was a low point in Mourinho's tenure to date. As the Portuguese makes clear, though, results are still not perfect, having been held to a goalless draw by Hull here in their last outing and also seen the likes of Burnley, West Ham and Stoke leave the Theatre of Dreams with a share of the spoils over the past six months.
Mazzarri clearly has a strong mutual respect with Mourinho, having previously faced off during their time together in Italy. The former Napoli and Inter Milan coach actually spent three months living in Manchester last year, knowing that he intended to take on a job at a Premier League team in the summer. Interestingly, he visited Anfield, Goodison Park and the Etihad Stadium, but he never paid a visit to Old Trafford and this will be his first viewing of the famous ground.
Both sets of players are now out on the field of play, with kickoff just a couple of minutes away. A reminder of the teams for you - Man United make two changes, bringing in Anthony Martial and Daley Blind for Marcus Rashford and Marcos Rojo, while the visitors have Miguel Britos back in their ranks. Bobby Madley is the man in the middle, and he will likely have his work cut out as no side has seen more yellows than the Hornets (62) this season.
KICKOFF! We are up and running at Old Trafford, where Manchester United - sporting black armbands in memory of those who died in the Munich Air Crash - are looking to make a bright start against Watford. Does appear to be four at the back for the visitors, as predicted.
First shot of the afternoon arrives a little under three minutes in, as Valencia is given a chance to get a cross into the box towards the reach of Ibrahimovic. The Swede scuffed the ball into the ground and wide, but that was a little warning sign.
Watford have looked to keep things tight so far, but the ball did break nicely for them in midfield and the ball sprayed out to Holebas on the left. The full-back's cross was a shocker, though, ending over De Gea's bar and in the stands.
Mata so nearly played through on goal, though full credit to Watford keeper Gomes who read the danger well and was quickly out to sweep up the ball. A promising sign for the hosts, who have made a bright enough start to the match - as they did against Hull.
Clear to see already that United are going to find it tough to break down their opponents through the middle of the pitch, with their only sight of goal so far coming from a long ball over the top and a cross from the right.
SAVE! First real attempt of the match so far, as Mkhitaryan is spotted by Ibrahimovic after the striker dropped deep. The Armenian ace had plenty of time to get a shot away, which was simple enough for Gomes to keep out down the middle.
SHOT! Niang, whose cross-shot was easily handled by De Gea a little earlier, decides to have a pop from 25 yards out but the ball was always rising. Up the other end, Martial takes on a couple of players only for his deflected shot to end wide.
United have upped the tempo over the past few minutes and nearly find a way through Watford's congested backline, but Mata had strayed just a yard or so offside when being played in behind. Lively enough start to the match at Old Trafford, which remains goalless 15 minutes in.
The ball appeared to bounce up and hit Ibrahimovic on the hand, but Bobby Madley still allowed him to fire away a half-volley that ended over the bar. Not the worst attempt from the superstar striker, who simply loves playing against Mazzarri-managed sides.
CLOSE! Holebas is played through down the left, and Bailly is happy to allow him to continue his run rather than cutting inside. It almost proved to be a bad choice, as the Watford man's shot had De Gea at full stretch but ended just inches wide of goal.
SAVE! United's turn to come close to a breakthrough, with Pogba's delicate shot heading for the back of the net if not for Gomes's intervention to push it aside. The Red Devils win a second corner soon after but fail to make the most of it.
SAVE! An acrobatic and eye-catching attempt from Zarate, whose attempt ended straight at De Gea in the end. Pogba tries his luck yet again up the other end, only to fall short from 30 yards out. Plenty of shots in the opening quarter of them match!
CHANCE! United have the ball in the back of the net, but referee Bobby Madley had already blown his whistle as he was unhappy with the quickly-taken free kick. Ibrahimovic takes down a long ball over the top, but could only blast over the bar on the turn.
SAVE! Such an incredibly open feel to this match, with the chances continuing to come. Valencia is again given plenty of room down the right, with his cutback being directed towards goal by Pogba for Gomes to keep out with ease.
The ball sits up nicely for Herrera to smash, and smash it he certainly did - albeit well over the bar. In any other game that would go down as a big chance, but we have seen five or six better openings already in the past 30 minutes.
CHANCE! This is quite incredible. United are making a chance-a-minute at the moment, with the latest arguably the best of the lot; Mata laying it off nicely for Mkhitaryan to strike 10 yards out, but the ball ends over the bar - again!
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 WATFORD (JUAN MATA)
Moments after Ibrahimovic came close from United's latest big chance, somehow being denied by Gomes from five yards out, Mata was able to sweep home Martial's cross to finally give United the breakthrough. It has been one-way traffic for the past 10 minutes, with this key opening goal being well worked.
It will be interesting to see if United maintain the pressure up to half time, having looked superb for the 10 minutes leading up to their breakthrough. Last thing they want to do now is step off and allow Watford back into the match.
No sign of the Red Devils sitting back on their goal, with another half-chance being created for Martial at the end of Valencia's cross. No way through on that occasion, but you would back the hosts to find a second soon.
The match finally appears to have calmed down a bit now, following a frenetic spell that saw chance after chance come United's way, as well as one or two openings for the visitors. Capoue blocked off the ball in the box but no penalty, says Bobby Madley.
From that Watford penalty shout, United quickly countered but could not get away a shot on Gomes's goal. Seen that appeal back again - referee got it correct as Capoue was looking for it under minimal contact on the edge of the area.
SAVE! Mkhitaryan is finding himself in some nice positions on the edge of the box, but he cannot quite place the ball into the corners of the net. This latest shot was again right down the middle, with Gomes quickly down to keep hold of it.
HALF TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 WATFORD
Martial goes on a superb run right through the middle of Watford's midfield and defence, but his shot at the end of the move is blocked before reaching Gomes. Manchester United having to settle for just the one goal at the break, then, but in truth they should have had two or three as they have created some big chances over the opening 45 minutes.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's scuffed shot two minutes in offered a sign of things to come in an action-packed first half, as the Red Devils created numerous openings but failed to truly make them count. Henrikh Mkhitaryan found himself in space in good shooting positions on three occasions in the opening 45 minutes, but each time he was unable to get the better of Heurelho Gomes with rather tame attempts.
Watford enjoyed a bright spell of their own in the first half, seeing M'Baye Niang's shot-cross handled by David de Gea before Mauro Zarate sent an eye-catching overhead kick right down the middle. Jose Holebas was also allowed to drive an effort marginally wide of the far post from range, but United then truly kicked into top gear and created numerous clear-cut openings.
Anthony Martial, back in the starting lineup in place of Marcus Rashford today in one of two changes, twice went on a mazy run but could not add the end product, while Paul Pogba was twice denied by Gomes. It was then Ibrahimovic's turn to squander a chance after bringing the ball down and driving over the bar on the spin, and Mkhitaryan fluffed his lines unmarked from seven yards out when spotted by Juan Mata.
The breakthrough goal that United deserved arrived 32 minutes in, however, as Mata swept home from Martial's cross just moments after Gomes pulled off his best save of the lot to frustrate Ibrahimovic from close range. Plenty for Jose Mourinho to be happy about at the interval thanks to Mata, but this one is far from over and Walter Mazzarri will still fancy nicking a point.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Romero, Darmian, Carrick, Fellaini, Lingard, Rashford, Rooney
WATFORD SUBS: Arlauskis, Mariappa, Janmaat, Behrami, Doucoure, Success, Okaka
RESTART! We are back under way at Old Trafford and there is news of a half-time change to bring you. Janmaat is on for Britos at the break, but the visitors do not appear to have changed system which is a little surprising.
United picking up from where they left off a little earlier, as Martial runs and runs and runs before dragging a shot narrowly wide of the far post. The hosts need a second before they can relax, and at this rate they look like scoring it soon.
SAVE! Much better from the Hornets over the past few minutes, as they get at their opponents for the first time in a while. A free kick was won 30 yards from goal, the same range that saw Kaboul score at the Emirates recently, but it is Zarate who takes it on and forces a good save out of De Gea.
So for all their chances in the first half, United required a strong De Gea hand to keep their lead intact. Putting games out of reach has been a real problem for the Red Devils on home soil this term against lesser sides.
Zarate takes on one player and then fancies his chances from 30 yards, but he fails at the first hurdle as the ball is blocked aside. Watford dominating possession over the past four minutes or so as they search for a leveller.
Martial finds himself in a good position again - he has been very good today, incidentally - but feeds the ball to Ibrahimovic a little too late. The Swede still attempts the shot from an angle, but can only send it into the side-netting.
Quiet spell in the match now, which will probable suit Man United more than their opponents. The Red Devils not at the same level as they were in the first half, allowing their opponents to take control of the match a little more.
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 WATFORD (ANTHONY MARTIAL)
Another nicely worked United goal, which this time ends with Martial slotting the ball past Gomes. Mkhitaryan won the ball in midfield, and three passes later the Frenchman was through on goal and giving the Watford keeper the eyes to double his side's lead.
CLOSE! The ball finds its way to Ibrahimovic on the edge of the box, but his shot deflects narrowly wide of the target for a corner. Watford, who showed promise through Deeney up the other end, having to hold of now.
A decent Watford delivery into the box gives United something to think about, as Niang shrugs off his man and sends the ball right across the face of goal. A cross then comes in from the left but is deflected behind for a corner kick.
Credit to Watford, they have looked the better side since going two down and are good value to pull one back. United may think that it is job done with 23 minutes to go, but one goal for the visitors changes all that.
The movement of Mata and Martial causing all sorts of problems all afternoon, with Watford's task made all the more difficult by Ibrahimovic dropping deep. Looking like being a really promising result for United, who will move up to fifth.
CHANCE! Superb yet again from Niang, who for the second time in 10 minutes charges down the box and sends in a teasing cross. Janmaat got on the end of the ball but was off balance and sent it over the bar with a first-time shot.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Mourinho has waited longer than expected to make this change, as he brings on Fellaini for opening goalscorer Mata. Watford appear to be readying a player or two, as well, so play will likely be broken up.
SAVE! Good play from Deeney, who brings the ball down inside the box and holds off his opponent to test De Gea with a stinger. Okaka is now on in place of Zarate as Mazzarri rolls the dice in these final 15 minutes at Old Trafford.
SAVE! Mkhitaryan is another who has deserved to find the net today, but his shot from an angle is kept out by Gomes down low - another good stop by the Brazilian, who has kept his side it this one at times. Time fast ticking down here.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! The Man of the Match, Anthony Martial, is replaced by Marcus Rashford for the final 10 minutes. The Englishman makes an early impression by getting the beating of Cathcart but there is no way through in the end.
Another good opportunity for Ibrahimovic, who lays the ball out wide and then gets on the end of it. Rather than directing it towards goal, though, he instead shoved out a leg and took it away from the target. He is only human after all!
WATFORD SUB! Cathcart will be happy to see his number go up on the far side, as Mazzarri brings on some fresh legs in Success. Ibrahimovic was waiting for a tap-in but Kaboul gets to the ball first to skew behind for a corner.
United doing well to just see this one through now, with the chances drying up at both ends following a lively match. Mourinho looks like making his third and final change, but it will not be Rooney so he will miss out on a landmark appearance.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Mourinho brings on Lingard for Mkhitaryan, who along with Martial and Mata has been really impressive today. Now into the final three minutes of normal time and it appears to be job done for the Red Devils.
YELLOW CARD! The first caution of the game is shown to Valencia for his late challenge. Watford still looking for that goal, but it will surely now prove to be nothing more than a mere consolation. Three minutes to be added on.
United now holding out in these final few minutes, with their 15-match unbeaten run now just two minutes from being extended a little further. A big mental victory for the Red Devils, having slipped up all too often at home this season.
FULL TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 WATFORD
Referee Bobby Madley blows his whistle for full time, meaning that Manchester United have made it 16 games without defeat in the Premier League to climb - temporarily, at least - into fifth place. Juan Mata and star man Anthony Martial scored either side of half time for the Red Devils, condemning Watford to a 2-0 reverse at Old Trafford.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Old Trafford. An on-the-whistle report can by found by clicking here, while updates from the evening kickoff in the Premier League between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are available here. Thanks for joining!
