Manchester United 2 Watford 0: Anthony Martial puts speculation over his Old Trafford future behind him with a goal and an assist in home triumph

ANTHONY MARTIAL showed no sign of unhappiness at Old Trafford as he bagged a goal and an assist as Manchester United comfortably saw off Watford.

The talk in the week was that United boss Jose Mourinho would start Marcus Rashford ahead of Martial, but it was a good job he didn't as the Frenchman stole the show.

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After setting up Juan Mata for the first, he scored with a fine finish in the second half to seal three points for the Red Devils.

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The only surprise was that it took United just over half an hour to take the lead at Old Trafford.

Heurelho Gomes made a brilliant save on 30 minutes to deny Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but he could nothing to prevent Mata scoring following a Martial assist.

The Spaniard then took of his boot and threw it in the air to celebrate - he only just put it back on before scoring after it came off.

Martial then got the goal his energetic performance deserved when he drove into the Watford area after a clever Ibrahimovic threaded ball, and fired past Gomes in the Hornets' goal.

Fact, stats, goals and lols

• Watford boss Walter Mazzarri lived in Manchester for four months to get used to England before taking a Premier League job. He wanted to live in a city where he could enjoy a normal life without too many Italians, in his words. Whether living in Manchester helped his English remains to be seen as he still does not speak the language.
• The 3-1 win over United in September was a massive result for Watford but a particularly shocking one for Jose Mourinho. Afterwards, he slammed Luke Shaw – albeit unfairly. A few weeks later, Wayne Rooney admitted it was one his worst games for the club. It was difficult to disagree.
• The United players gathered around the centre circle thinking there was to be a minute’s silence for the Munich air crash but there had been a communication problem. There wasn’t a minute's silence.

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• Zlatan Ibrahimovic went into the game on 20 goals and had a cracking chance after three minutes for number 21 – but he completely miskicked. Zlatan then skied an even better opportunity in the 26th minute. The Swede looked pretty unimpressed with himself.
• Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes looked as though he would take some beating as he saved from Paul Pogba – but United then scored in the 32nd minute. Juan Mata, who started the move with a brilliant flick, scored from close range but only after Ibra dummied a cross from Anthony Martial. Mata’s boot came off and then he threw it into the air.
• Mazzarri delivered a major half-time reshuffle. He brought on Daryl Janmaat for Miguel Britos but that was only half of it. Janmaat moved into midfield, Jose Holebas dropped into Britos’ left-back spot while in midfield, M’Baye Niang and Mauro Zarate changed positions.

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• The crowd start singing the name of David de Gea and little wonder. He saved his team with a brilliant right-handed stop to keep out a free-kick from Zarate.
• As ever, though, the Old Trafford crowd was generally quiet The away fans sang: ‘we forget you were here.”
• The place livened up on the hour, though. Ander Herrera won the ball in midfield and fine flick from Ibrahimivic released Martial who moved menacingly towards the near post and then spotted a gap and scores past Gomes.
• It should definitely have been 2-1. Janmaat, looking lively as a sub, somehow blazed over the bar for Watford.
• The impressive Martial was given a standing ovation when he was replaced by Marcus Rashford in the 81st minute.

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Big Picture

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Dream Team Ratings

Manchester United: de Gea 7, Valencia 7, Bailly 8, Smalling 7, Blind 7, Herrera 8, Pogba 8, Mata 8 (Fellaini, 72 6), Mkhitaryan 8 (Lingard 89 6), Martial 8 (Rashford, 81 6), Ibrahimovic 8

Subs (not used): Rooney, Carrick, Romero, Darmian

Booked: Valencia

Goals: Mata (32) Martial (60)

Watford: Gomes 7, Cathcart 6 (Success, 83 5), Kaboul 7, Prödl 6, Britos 6 (Janmaat 5), Cleverley 6, Zárate 6 (Okaka, 72 6), Capoue 6, Niang 6, Holebas 6, Deeney 6

Subs (not used): Mariappa, Behrami, Doucouré, Arlauskis

Booked: None

Goals: None

Star man: Paul Pogba

What they said

Manchester United goalscorer Juan Mata: "When you play good football and get the three points it is a step forward but we need to keep going. It was a convincing performance and we are very happy today.

"It started to feel like it was one of those games again. Their keeper saved every chance but then the goal came and after that it was more comfortable for us. We are going in the right direction.

"It is very, very difficult. First of all is to get into the top four. We have been winning games but not going higher in the table. We want to go higher and higher. We never know where we will finish."

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Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes: "We didn't show up in the first half. Second half was much better, we competed with them but by then it was too late.

"We are disappointed but when we lose we lose together.

"We are still looking up the table because we have quality. When we show up we show we compete with anyone."