Match ends, Manchester United 2, Watford 0.
Manchester United moved one point adrift of a top-four place as Anthony Martial marked his return with a goal and an assist in a victory over Watford.
United, now unbeaten in their past 16 Premier League games, took the lead when Martial set up Juan Mata to finish from close range.
Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes then made fine saves to deny Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
But Martial, making his first league start since 15 January, sealed victory for United in their last league game for three weeks when he fired home after a driving run.
Victory briefly took United up to fifth, but they finished the day back in sixth after Liverpool's 2-0 win over Tottenham.
- Reaction from Old Trafford and the rest of Saturday's Premier League games
- Relive the action from Old Trafford
United sign off in style
This was a hugely satisfactory day for United, who secured a routine win to maintain their push for a top-four finish.
And Jose Mourinho could have his first major silverware as Red Devils manager by the time they play their next league game, against Bournemouth on 4 March.
After home and away matches against Saint-Etienne in the Europa League, which sandwich an FA Cup visit to Blackburn, United face Southampton in the EFL Cup final on 26 February.
And picking his team for Wembley could prove a difficult job for Mourinho.
Martial did everything asked of him on his return in place of Marcus Rashford, while Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick were unused substitutes.
Watford undone by slick hosts
The Hornets arrived at Old Trafford having won back-to-back league games, which included a victory at title hopefuls Arsenal
And Walter Mazzarri's side started brightly, pushing forward with pace and creating chances.
Yet United would have been out of sight but for Gomes - the Watford keeper at his best to deny Pogba and Ibrahimovic before the interval.
Pogba's first-time shot was parried by Gomes' strong hand, while Ibrahimovic was left scratching his head after the Brazilian kept out his close-range header moments before Mata broke the deadlock.
It was by no means a quiet day for United counterpart David de Gea. At 1-0, the Spaniard produced a spectacular stop to keep out Mauro Zarate's free-kick.
And it could have been a different story had Jose Holebas' thunderous effort hit the target instead of falling narrowly wide when the game was goalless.
Man of the match - Anthony Martial (Manchester United)
'We were phenomenal' - manager reaction
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho: "In the first half, the football was fabulous. The fans got behind the team just before we scored the goal because we were phenomenal.
"We are not a team scoring lots of goals so it is important to keep the clean sheets. I am really happy with the performance.
"Martial deserves the chance. He has worked harder than ever in the last two weeks in the way I like - silent but hard."
Watford boss Walter Mazzarri: "It is a pity because we started very well. The important thing that we have to avoid is losing too many balls in the midfield. This is what cost us the result today.
"We had a chance with Jose Holebas, but, after they scored, for five to 10 minutes we lost a little bit of focus and especially defensively we committed some mistakes."
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 compete with anyone."
Longest unbeaten run since Ferguson - stats
- United are on their longest unbeaten run in the top-flight since March 2013.
- They are the first team to win 2,000 points in the Premier League.
- Watford have lost on each of their four Premier League visits to Old Trafford.
- The Hornets have conceded more goals away at United than any against other side (11).
- Martial has been involved in more Premier League goals for United than any other player since his debut (22 - 14 goals, 8 assists).
- Since making his debut in August 2011, Mata has been involved in 87 Premier League goals (45 goals, 42 assists), more than any other midfielder.
What's next?
Thursday night football returns to Old Trafford as United welcome Saint-Etienne (20:05 GMT) in a Europa League last-32 first-leg tie.
Watford, who are out of the FA Cup, have a two-week break before they return to Premier League action at home to West Ham on 25 February (17:30 GMT).
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 25A ValenciaBooked at 90mins
- 3Bailly
- 12Smalling
- 17Blind
- 21Herrera
- 6Pogba
- 8MataSubstituted forFellainiat 72'minutes
- 22MkhitaryanSubstituted forLingardat 89'minutes
- 11MartialSubstituted forRashfordat 81'minutes
- 9Ibrahimovic
Substitutes
- 10Rooney
- 14Lingard
- 16Carrick
- 19Rashford
- 20Romero
- 27Fellaini
- 36Darmian
Watford
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Gomes
- 4Kaboul
- 5Prödl
- 3BritosSubstituted forJanmaatat 45'minutes
- 15CathcartSubstituted forSuccessat 83'minutes
- 29Capoue
- 8Cleverley
- 25Holebas
- 20ZárateSubstituted forOkakaat 74'minutes
- 21Niang
- 9Deeney
Substitutes
- 6Mariappa
- 10Success
- 11Behrami
- 16Doucouré
- 22Janmaat
- 33Okaka
- 34Arlauskis
- Referee:
- Robert Madley
- Attendance:
- 75,301
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home22
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home11
- Away3
- Corners
- Home5
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester United 2, Watford 0.
Post update
Foul by Chris Smalling (Manchester United).
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Troy Deeney (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Antonio Valencia (Manchester United).
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José Holebas (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ander Herrera.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Jesse Lingard replaces Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United) because of an injury.
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Foul by Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United).
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Isaac Success (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Younes Kaboul.
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Paul Pogba (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by M'Baye Niang (Watford).
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Isaac Success replaces Craig Cathcart.
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Attempt saved. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ander Herrera.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Marcus Rashford replaces Anthony Martial.
Post update
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Younes Kaboul.
Comments
Join the conversation
We probably won't, but it's still nice to see a good attacking performance from Man Utd, still with a rock solid defence.
Should've been 4-0 today I reckon.
BBC could you give us an option to block seeing some comments, as some are repetative and boring
As it stands, Utd join Spurs in having title winning form and while we slipped up today, both teams are on course for a top 3 finish.
Utd look impressive, difficult to beat and a typical Mourinho team playing with style.
Keep it coming guys all your garbage is music to our ears
It's merely a place for all utd haters to express how much they hate utd more than they love their own clubs!
Get out the closet guy's, your all secret utd fans! Lol
Let's see if i can break the record for negative likes....
It must be hard falling asleep,dreaming,waking and then thinking all day about your hatred for Utd and the BBC. It must be all consuming to have all these conspiracy theories and hate tumbling about your swede. Just turn off if it's causing you problems. Chasing conspiracies about Utd/BBC is a little bit childish and dim.