Scott McTominay celebrated captaining Manchester United for the first time with the early winner which saw off Championship visitors Watford in the FA Cup third round.
The Scotland midfielder led United out with Harry Maguire on the bench and put the hosts ahead with a downward header from Alex Telles’ corner.
After the fast start, United struggled to impose themselves as Watford grew.
The Hornets had plenty of possession but could not stretch Dean Henderson.
United will go into the hat for Monday’s fourth and fifth-round draws, while Watford are left to focus on winning promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
33Williams3Bailly38Tuanzebe27Telles
- 26Henderson
- 33Williams
- 3Bailly
Substituted forMaguireat 45+5’minutes - 38TuanzebeBooked at 65mins
- 27TellesBooked at 72mins
- 39McTominay
- 34van de Beek
- 8Mata
- 14Lingard
Substituted forMaticat 80’minutes - 21James
Substituted forRashfordat 68’minutes - 11Greenwood
Substituted forMartialat 69’minutes
Substitutes
- 1de Gea
- 5Maguire
- 9Martial
- 10Rashford
- 17Fred
- 18Bruno Fernandes
- 25Ighalo
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 31Matic
Watford
Formation 4-4-2
32Navarro5Troost-Ekong31Sierralta11Masina
23Sarr14Chalobah19Hughes7Zinckernagel
- 26Bachmann
- 32Navarro
- 5Troost-Ekong
Substituted forWilmotat 76’minutes - 31Sierralta
- 11Masina
Substituted forNgakiaat 58’minutes - 23SarrBooked at 38mins
Substituted forSemaat 58’minutes - 14Chalobah
Substituted forPhillipsat 84’minutes - 19Hughes
- 7Zinckernagel
Substituted forHungboat 76’minutes - 10João Pedro
- 18Gray
Substitutes
- 1Foster
- 3Ngakia
- 6Wilmot
- 12Sema
- 40Dalby
- 41Barrett
- 44Hungbo
- 49Crichlow
- 52Phillips
Match Stats
Live Text
- Match ends, Manchester United 1, Watford 0.
- Second Half ends, Manchester United 1, Watford 0.
- Nemanja Matic (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- Foul by Francisco Sierralta (Watford).
- Attempt blocked. Marc Navarro (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- Foul by Scott McTominay (Manchester United).
- Will Hughes (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- Attempt missed. Juan Mata (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.
- Anthony Martial (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- Foul by Daniel Phillips (Watford).
- Anthony Martial (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- Foul by Ben Wilmot (Watford).
- Foul by Alex Telles (Manchester United).
- Joseph Hungbo (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- Foul by Nemanja Matic (Manchester United).
- Joseph Hungbo (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- Scott McTominay (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- Foul by Jeremy Ngakia (Watford).
- Corner, Watford. Conceded by Harry Maguire.
- Attempt blocked. Joseph Hungbo (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by João Pedro.