With a quarter of their rather mundane season left, Manchester United stand on the brink of unexpected achievement. If they show any kind of consistency, appetite or gumption over the next few weeks then a place in the Champions League could yet be theirs.
United have not looked like a European team for much of this campaign. Even their better moments have been so fleeting as to disappear from memory almost immediately.
But now, a combination of a successive victories and the enduring frailties of others, have left Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team standing squarely in front of opportunity and it would appear the next four games may go a long way to telling us whether they really are capable.
Manchester United eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Watford at home on Sunday in the Premier League
Bruno Fernandes netted the opener from the penalty spot in Manchester United’s victory against Watford at Old Trafford
The Portuguese star burst into the penalty area on 42 minutes but was felled by the onrushing Watford stopper Ben Foster
Fernandes coolly converted from 12 yards after the midfielder’s jump during his run-up sent Foster diving the wrong way
A win at Chelsea last Monday followed by a performance here that grew better the longer it went on have left United in fifth, just three points off what is admittedly a rather slovenly pace.
Up next are games against Everton, Manchester City, Tottenham and Sheffield United. Four games to make or break a season? It pretty much looks that way.
Here, Solskjaer’s team were slow to start but finished rather well. The Norwegian will hope it is a metaphor for the season. This is a United team more suited to playing on the counter attack and new signing Bruno Fernandes has certainly helped with that.
The Portuguese looks like a United player in attitude at least. He is direct, aggressive and full of running. He was impressive here and second only in effectiveness to the young Welshman Daniel James. Between them the two players carried a threat that troubled Watford increasingly as the day wore on.
The winning margin was three and that in itself was a good sign for United. For much of this season, they have struggled to create opportunities but here they managed 21 shots and nine of those were on target. That represents significant improvement.
Anthony Martial doubled United’s lead with a lofted finish after the Frenchman’s initial effort had been smothered by Foster
The striker kept his composure to finish from a tight angle after Fernandes’ incisive ball carved open Watford’s back line
Mason Greenwood wrapped up the points for the hosts after thundering home an effort from the edge of the penalty area
In the last 20 minutes they were particularly dangerous and actually looked like a United team should. Hungry and eager to entertain, it was a bit of a throwback spell and one that they were able to produce largely because of what happened in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
A goal ahead at half-time after a penalty won and converted by Fernandes in the 40th minute, United were the better team but far from home and dry. So when Troy Deeney prodded a loose ball in to the roof of the net after Craig Dawson had bundled a corner against the post and along the goal line, it appeared that a Watford team that continues to look better than its league position suggests were back on terms. United can still look a little fragile in terms of confidence when things like this happen so it would have been interesting to observe their reaction.
But while Watford celebrated the Premier League’s VAR officials got to work and within a minute referee Martin Atkinson had indicated a handball against Dawson who had – TV replays showed – met the ball from the corner with his upper arm.
This is how VAR should work. The Watford supporters up in the corner vented their disappointment but the fact of the matter is that Dawson had indeed committed an offence and the whole thing had been dealt with within 60 seconds. If it was like this every time, there really would be few complaints.
Troy Deeney appeared to have levelled for Watford after latching on to a loose ball and finishing into the roof of the net
But the goal was chalked off after VAR discovered Craig Dawson handled before striking the post, with Deeney following up
Abdoulaye Doucoure was presented with a golden opportunity to shoot after lapse defending but had been unable to convert
For United, it’s becoming a familiar feeling. Two VAR decisions went their way at Chelsea, too. But the key is to make the most of the ones that land in your favour. It will not always be that way.
Here, United were quick to take advantage. Watford were pushing men forward in increased numbers as they sought parity and United were able to pick them off.
Anthony Martial’s goal came six minutes after the VAR decision and was well taken. It was James who played the Frenchman clear down the inside left channel and even though Foster blocked the first effort with his legs, Martial was able to recover the ball, turn and lift it over Foster in to an empty goal that by this point should really have been protected by at least one covering defender on the line.
Foster, hasty in advancing to fell Fernandes for the first half penalty, was not at fault here and was raging at the lack of cover. He probably knew what we all knew; namely that a two-goal deficit was going to be too much for his team.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer instructed his players from the sidelines as United struggled to break down a compact Watford early on
United wonderkid Greenwood opted to let fly from distance but his powerful effort failed to trouble Foster in the first half
The hosts had endured a largely frustrating opening 45 minutes with Watford standing firm and creating their own chances
Watford had been decent for an hour. Deeney and Abdoulaye Doucare had sniffed at half chances in the first period while the latter also drew a sharp save from David de Gea by his left hand post.
But Nigel Pearson’s team began to look desperately vulnerable as they chased a lost cause in the final half an hour and after Foster saved from the breaking Martial and Harry Maguire put a header wide, United scored the goal of the game with 15 minutes to go.
Will Hughes lost the ball on the halfway line and immediately Watford looked to be in trouble. It was a theme of the second half – United breaking in numbers on to defenders panicked in to the half turn – and this time Fernandes slipped the ball through to Greenwood who eased to his left and crashed a shot high above Foster’s right shoulder and in to the net with his left foot.
So this was one of United’s better afternoons, a day on which they looked a little more like they really should. Solskjaer’s team are yet to win three league games on the spin this season. Now would be a good time to change that.
Watford boss Nigel Pearson and assistant Craig Shakespeare watched on as Watford attempted to climb out the bottom three
A giant banner was unveiled in the Stretford End to remember former United player Harry Gregg, who passed away last week