Man United show their true colours to outfight Hornets

Neil Moxley

then the goal happened and the game is open. We had the same experience here last season.”

The opening half-hour centred on De Gea’s goal with the Spaniard tipping over a Troy Deeney drive as Watford pushed on.

But United plugged away and Alexis Sanchez saw one strike chalked off after straying offside.

The breakthrough finally arrived in 35 minutes when Ashley Young’s free- kick was played on by Fellaini.

It took a slight deflection to f lummox Watford’s defence and take keeper Ben Foster out of the equation, falling perfectly for Lukaku to nudge over the line.

The Hornets were again undone by a set-piece just three minutes later.

Fellaini was again the target, nodding goalwards where Smalling controlled and volleyed past Foster.

Watford almost stole a point late on but De Gea was on hand to keep out Christian Kabasele’s header.

Hornets boss Javi Gracia, a fellow Spaniard, said: “I prefer when David makes saves with the national team, not now!”