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Watford battle back but victorious Manchester United punish mistakes to triumph

Marco Silva says ‘nervous’ Watford gifted Manchester United three-goal lead but praises Hornets’ chracter

Watford v Manchester United: Mourinho says ‘pressure-free’ Hornets could afford to go for broke

Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo should have been sent off, says Watford boss Marco Silva

Watford v Manchester United: Marco Silva says Jose Mourinho’s comments ‘harsh’ after defeat

Manchester United loss the product of poor first half, says Watford’s Marvin Zeegelaar

Watford vs Manchester United ratings: Troy Deeney and Andre Carrillo impress from the bench but defence struggles

 Manchester United “should have been smoking cigars” in their Premier League victory over Watford, manager Jose Mourinho said.

 Ashley Young scored two superb goals before Manchester United held off a second-half Watford fightback to win 4-2 at Vicarage Road in the Premier League.

 United had looked like running away from Watford as Ashley Young enjoyed an early festive return to Vicarage Road, scoring two lovely goals. The home team never gave up though, dragging it back to 3-2 before Jesse Lingard took the game away with a sublime late fourth goal, weaving his way from his own half to finish in front of a delirious away end.

It was already a strange night’s football by the time that Mourinho came in post-match to analyse a game in which his team had taken a three-goal lead within 31 minutes only almost to throw it all away in the second half when Watford claimed two of their own. This briefly looked like the worst nightmare for a manager whose speciality was once that his teams knew how to shut the door as well as any other, and it took Jesse Lingard to score a brilliant fourth to seal it.

It all started so well.  The Hornets had an early chance as Femenía hit a cross that Richarlison was just unable to reach.  The Brazilian was the next to try a cross, but it was caught by De Gea.  A corner from Cleverley was met by the head of Zeegelaar, but the effort was blocked.  Somewhat against the run of play, the visitors took the lead in the 19^th minute with a gorgeous shot from Young that curled in at the near post.  He celebrated in front of the Watford fans, which incurred the wrath of many in the Rookery meaning that his every touch was booed from that moment on. 

 X-Factor finalists Rak-Su performed at half time and after asking “Watford how we feeling?!”, which one can only assume was rhetorical (no one is that dumb, right?), the question got the response (or rather lack of) that it deserved.

It seemed all over in the space of about 14 minutes, but Watford did make the match look vaguely interesting in the end. Jon, Mike and DCW talk through the match and the BIG 5 who have visited Vicarage Road already this season!