Live Commentary: Manchester United 2-1 Watford - as it happened

Manchester United have moved above Arsenal into fourth position in the Premier League table courtesy of a 2-1 win against Watford at Old Trafford.

In what was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first match in charge since being appointed permanent boss, the Red Devils secured three important points to return to the Champions League positions.

Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.

4.56pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with United recording a 2-1 win over Watford to move above Arsenal into fourth position in the Premier League table. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!

FULL TIME:

90+4 minMAN UNITED 2-1 WATFORD

90+3 min... Pereyra's effort is dinked into the box and United win a free kick.

90+3 minWatford have a free kick outside the box as Lingard fells Doucoure...

90+2 minWe are into the second of three additional minutes and time is running out for Watford.

90+1 minNow then! Watford have one back in the latter stages as Doucoure plays a one-two on the edge of the United box before finding the back of the net with a very smart finish.

GOAL!

90 minMAN UNITED 2-1 WATFORD (DOUCOURE)

89 minShaw is back on his feet for United after receiving a bit of treatment.

87 minNot an awful lot happening at the moment as Watford pass the ball but without really threatening to score. United are closing on a very important three points here.

85 minLittle over five minutes of the second period remaining at Old Trafford.

YELLOW CARD!

83 minMasina (Watford) is booked for a tug on Rashford's shirt.

83 minWATFORD SUB! Success replaces Hughes for the away side.

SHOT!

82 minComfortable save from Foster to keep out Lingard's strike.

81 minShaw has been good for United this afternoon - probably the best in a red shirt. Again the Englishman breaks into a wide position, but Hughes is back to make the challenge.

79 minHow have Watford not scored this afternoon? Well, De Gea has been a huge reason. But the Hornets will be wondering how they are 2-0 behind having dominated for long spells.

77 minMAN UNITED SUB! Rojo replaces Martial for the home side.

76 minMarcos Rojo is about to come on for United. Haven't seen him in a while!

74 minWATFORD SUB! Gray replaces Deulofeu for the away side.

73 minUnited have their second! It is very much against the run of play, but Martial has the ball in the back of the net. Foster initially denied the Frenchman from close range, but Martial managed to get back on his feet before converting. It is very, very tough on the away side!

GOAL!

72 minMAN UNITED 2-0 WATFORD (MARTIAL)

71 minDeulofeu delivers a dangerous free kick into the United box, but Smalling does well to make the clearance. Surely the home side have to ease some of the pressure at some point?!

69 minIt is Watford's attack versus United's defence at the moment.

67 minKiko breaks into a wide position before delivering a dangerous cross towards the far post, but De Gea makes the claim before releasing Young. The attack again breaks down, though.

65 minLittle over 25 minutes of the second period remaining and United really need to raise the tempo as Watford continue to enjoy loads of the ball and indeed create opportunities.

63 minMAN UNITED SUBS! Lingard and Pereira replace Mata and Herrera.

61 minJones fends Deeney off the ball inside the United box as the Watford captain threatens to meet a dropping ball. Little under 30 minutes of the second period remaining here.

CLOSE!

59 minPogba loses possession inside his own half and Watford have another chance as the ball breaks for Hughes inside the United box, but his effort just misses the post.

57 minWATFORD SUB! Kiko replaces Janmaat for the away side.

55 minWatford remain the better side, but United still have the lead courtesy of that excellent finish from Rashford. Solskjaer cannot be pleased with what he is seeing at the moment here.

SAVE!

53 minDe Gea has to push a low Pereyra effort around the post!

CLOSE!

53 minJanmaat misses the United goal with a strike from inside the box!

51 minAside from Rashford, United have not been great going forward this afternoon. Martial and Mata have both found it difficult to contribute, while Pogba has also been quiet. It would not be a surprise to see Lukaku in the next 20 minutes or so, particularly if it stays 1-0.

49 minWatford continue to look threatening here as another long ball is delivered towards Deeney, but Smalling just does enough to make the clearance. Nothing much from United.

SAVE!

47 minDe Gea is on hand to keep out a long-range strike from Deulofeu.

47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops here.

KICKOFF:

46 minWatford resume the action here...

3.59pmBENCH WATCH! There is no question that Watford boss Gracia has attacking quality on his bench this afternoon, with the likes of Kiko, Gray, Quina and Success all available. United, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Lingard, Lukaku, Fred, Pereira and Dalot.

3.54pmSTATISTICS! United shaded the first-half possession with 56%, while they managed five attempts, two of which were on target. Watford actually had eight attempts in the first 45 minutes, with three of those on target. Just the one booking - Will Hughes in the 17th minute.

3.49pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with United leading Watford 1-0 courtesy of a super finish from Marcus Rashford. Watford actually had a number of chances to score before the breakthrough arrived, but found David de Gea in fine form.

HALF TIME:

45+3 minMAN UNITED 1-0 WATFORD

45+2 minMata just fails to find Martial after breaking free inside the Watford box.

45+1 minWe are into the first of three additional minutes at the end of the first period.

45 minSmart clearance from Smalling as the United defender heads behind under pressure from Britos as Watford look to force a leveller in the final stages of the first period here.

43 minDeeney wins another free kick for his team after battling with Smalling. There is a very interesting battle happening between Watford's captain, and Smalling and Jones.

41 minDeeney has another strike blocked by Jones as Watford remain on the front foot. The home side are having a lot of possession while United play on the counter-attack. Rashford has just again broken onto a through pass, but Foster did well to force the Englishman out wide.

39 minNot an awful lot in terms of clear chances for the visitors since they fall behind, but United needed De Gea to make some excellent saves to keep the score goalless in the early stages.

37 minDeulofeu is fit to continue and Watford are back on the attack here.

35 minDeulofeu looks to have a problem for Watford after clashing with Jones - the United centre-back looked to fall on the Spaniard, who jarred his back and does not look too pleased.

SAVE!

33 minTerrific save from Foster to keep out a strike from Martial after Watford fail to clear a corner. A second for United at this stage of the contest would be very tough on the away side.

31 minWatford can feel unfortunate to be behind, but it was an excellent pass from Shaw and a brilliant finish from Rashford. Can the away side respond before the interval here?

29 minBreakthrough! United take the lead in the 28th minute as Rashford collects a brilliant through ball from Shaw before lifting his effort past the onrushing Foster. Super finish!

GOAL!

28 minMAN UNITED 1-0 WATFORD (RASHFORD)

PENALTY APPEAL!

26 minPenalty shout for United as Martial goes down inside the box under a challenge from Britos, but the referee is not interested. Better from the home side, though.

SAVE!

24 minDecent save from De Gea to keep out a strike from Deulofeu this time.

22 minDeeney again breaks into a dangerous position before delivering a cross, but Jones is on hand to head behind for a corner, which comes to nothing. Still goalless at Old Trafford.

SAVE!

20 minExcellent save from De Gea to keep out a powerful strike from Pereyra!

19 minMuch better from United as Shaw breaks into the Watford box before looking to pick out Rashford with a low cross, but Britos is on hand to make the clearance. Good work there.

YELLOW CARD!

17 minHughes (Watford) is booked for a poor challenge on Pogba.

16 minYoung has just missed everyone with a cross and that sums up United's start!

15 minBit of possession for United in the last few minutes, but they are struggling to get anything going. Mata has moved into a central position and is looking to find space in the left channel, but Watford look very compact as they continue to deal with the home side here.

13 minSome concern over De Gea here as the stopper stays down after making that save from Deeney, but he will be fit to continue. Watford are very much on top at the moment.

SAVE!

12 minDe Gea has to claw away a header from Deeney as Watford continue to threaten! The powerful striker is causing problems with his strength inside the home side's penalty box.

10 minHalf-chance for United this time, but Smalling heads a corner wide of the post.

SHOT!

8 minDeeney strikes from distance, but his effort was always rising over the crossbar.

CLOSE!

6 minDecent chance for Watford as Doucoure is found inside the United box, but his effort is wide. There is no doubt that the away side have the players to hurt the home side here.

4 minA win for United this afternoon would see them move into fourth position as Chelsea do not play until tomorrow, while Arsenal host Newcastle United on Monday night. Not an awful lot to report in these early moments, although Pogba has just wasted a good crossing chance.

2 min... bright start from United as Mata breaks into a wide position before delivering a cross towards Rashford, but there are no takers and Watford resume with the possession here.

0 minUnited kick things off here...

2.58pmAs for Watford, Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu will start as the front two, while a strong midfield includes Abdoulaye Doucoure and Roberto Pereyra. Craig Cathcart is only on the bench against his former club, though, while Isaac Success and Andre Gray are also in reserve for the visitors.

2.57pmUnited's team shows four changes from the one that started the defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers before the international break. Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Juan Mata and David de Gea all come in, with Sergio Romero, Jesse Lingard, Victor Lindelof and Diogo Dalot dropping out. Romelu Lukaku makes the bench, as do Andreas Pereira and Fred.

2.56pmTEAMS! UNITED: De Gea; Young, Jones, Smalling, Shaw; Herrera, Matic, Pogba; Mata, Rashford, Martial WATFORD: Foster; Janmaat, Kabasele, Britos, Masina; Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra; Deeney, Deulofeu

2.55pmGood afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Watford from Old Trafford. United will be looking to return to winning ways this afternoon having lost their last two against Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League and FA Cup respectively. Watford, meanwhile, have lost two of their last three in the league, but a strong campaign to date has left them in eighth position in the table.

Live Commentary: Manchester United 2-1 Watford - as it happened

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