Manchester United vs Watford 1-0 Video Highlight and Goals | Manchester United vs Watford Gallery Photo and Images

Manchester United vs Watford 1-0 Video Highlight and Goals | Manchester United vs Watford Gallery Photo and Images

Scott McTominay booked Manchester United's invest the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup with a first-half winner in a 1-0 victory over Championship side Watford. 

Our Scottish international midfielder was captain for the initial 45 minutes and played a skipper's role with a headed goal in mere the fifth minute of the tie on a bitterly cold night at Old Trafford. 

It proved enough to see off a spirited Hornets side who have been managed by their new boss Xisco Munoz for just the 3rd time since his appointment prior to Christmas. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made nine changes from the XI he fielded against Manchester City in last Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final. And after a blistering opening, inspired by McTominay, the third-round clash became somewhat subdued. 

But United are in least in the draw for round four on Monday night. 

FIRST HALF - HEAD BOY McTOMINAY LEADS THE WAY 

It could have been a much-changed United line-up but the team were all in tune right from the kick-off and got off to a flyer with skipper McTominay's opener after just five minutes. 

The target might not came quite as rapidly because the midfielder's double against Leeds United in the Premier League last month, but he proved again he's no slouch from the opening whistle by powering a header downwards from an Alex Telles corner that took an enormous bounce to loop beyond Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann. 

It didn't dampen the Championship side's spirit and the Reds needed Axel Tuanzebe to hack the ball away from just off the goalline following Adam Masina's shot. 

The Telles corner route to goal almost paid again in the 19th minute when his delivery was met by Eric Bailly, who stole space for himself in the box, but his header was glanced wide. 

Watford, however, refused to take a nap and Ismaila Sarr lobbed a higher ball towards goal after breaking free from Telles. The Reds cleared but were defending desperately again after 32 minutes when our defence blocked several chances. The referee, Andrew Madley, turned down Watford appeals for handball by Bailly and then VAR endorsed the official's decision. 

The Reds finally got back in a smooth groove late in the half when an intricate, flowing move, involving Mason Greenwood, the back-heeling Donny van de Beek and Juan Mata, ended with the latter having his shot saved. 

The half ended on a worrying note when Bailly was clattered by Dean Henderson as our keeper came out to punch a ball clear and inadvertently caught the Ivorian in the top together with his knee. The groggy defender was carefully escorted to the touchline by United's medical staff before being taken down the tunnel and replaced by Harry Maguire. 

SECOND HALF - CHANCES LIMITED BUT REDS EASE THROUGH 

United were below par in the next half and with Watford's danger subsiding, the tie was treading water.  

In a bid to inject some new life into his side, Solskjaer triggered Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to displace James and Greenwood after 68 minutes. 

However, it was Watford's sub Ken Sema who almost made probably the most telling impact of the new faces, with a totally free kick after 72 minutes that floated just at the far post. It had been a bit too close for comfort, though Henderson did watch all of it the best way to safety. 

Opportunities were few and far between because the Reds struggled to locate top gear on a cold night with neither a Maguire header or even a Rashford shot really testing Watford keeper Bachmann. 

Nevertheless, United saw out the tie and made it through to the next round. 

MATCH DETAILS 

United: Henderson, Williams, Tuanzebe, Bailly (Maguire 45+4), Telles, McTominay, Van de Beek, Mata, Lingard (Matic, 79), James (Rashford 68), Greenwood (Martial 68). 

Subs not used: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Fernandes, Ighalo 

Goal: McTominay (5) 

Booked: Tuanzebe, Telles 

Watford: Bachmann, Navarro, Sierralta, Troost-Ekong (Wilmot 76), Masina (Ngakia 57), Sarr (Sema 57), Chalobah (Phillips 83), Hughes, Zinckernagel (Hungbo 76), Joao Pedro, Gray. 

Subs not used: Foster, Dalby, Barrett, Crichlow. 

Booked: Sarr

Manchester United vs Watford Gallery Photo and Images

Manchester United vs Wattford Video

Source: www.manutd.com