Manchester United clinch 2-1 win at Watford

Manchester United took three points at Vicarage Road with a 2-1 win against Watford in the return to Premier League action after the international break.

United started with Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez, and Romelu Lukaku in attack. Luke Shaw didn’t feature after suffering concussion while on England duty against Spain last Saturday.

It was Shaw’s replacement, Ashley Young, who provided the assist for the first. His free kick cross was cleared, but he collected the ball to put in another, and Lukaku bundled it in with his stomach.

Four minutes later, it was two, as Chris Smalling did well to chest down a Marouane Fellaini header before hooking it swiftly past Ben Foster in goal. It would prove to be the winner.

United tailed off in the second half, and Anthony Martial’s introduction offered little as he continued to struggle with his form. With 26 minutes of normal time remaining, Andre Gray gave United reason to be nervous when he pulled one back.

As the away side sat ever deeper, there was a scare when Christian Kabasele’s header was tipped away by David de Gea late in the game, and Nemanja Matic saw red for a second yellow card.

The win moves United into eighth on nine points.