PEARSON CAN GO FOURTH.. TO A DOUBLE

NIGEL PEARSON will refuse to be daunted – or too excited – by history when Watford venture into their familiar Old Trafford graveyard.

The Hornets have not taken a single point from Manchester United’s fortress since November 1985, when Ron Atkinson was in charge of the Red Devils.

Pearson (above) is similarly unimpressed by the chance of becoming only the fourth English boss – after Alan Curbishley, Glenn Hoddle and Garry Monk – to complete a home-and-away double against United in the Premier League era.

And although he offered no assurances that lowly Watford will repeat the great escape he masterminded at Leicester in 201415, Pearson should be inspired by one of his best days in management that season – the Foxes’ 5-3 win, after trailing Louis van Gaal’s United 3-1, at the King Power.

Pearson said: “It was a fantastic result and a very interesting game.

“Maybe it ignited some belief for sure and it probably illustrated that with the right type of approach, things can happen that you don’t expect in football.

“That type of game doesn’t happen very often but we made the most of the day and we showed the right levels of commitment.

“The fact that, historically, Watford have not done well at Old Trafford is of no relevance to me – except it would be nice to change that.”

Record £35million-signing Ismaila Sarr’s return from a hamstring injury could galvanise struggling Watford, whose first win on Pearson’s watch was against United two months ago.

Pearson is also acutely aware of a likely reunion with Vicarage Road old boy Odion Ighalo (inset), whose 39 goals in two-and-a-half years for Watford helped to establish them in the top flight.

He added: “There have been conversations about it, but I can’t spin a yarn that it’s any more than he comes into the equation because he is available for United.

“We will give him the respect that we show every opposition player.”