Romelu strike inspires Mourinho’s men to swat a

THEY may have built a reputation of being devils in red – but Manchester United were pretty in pink last night.

Those famous scarlet shirts were swapped for ones of an altogether different hue at Vicarage Road, but this was no lily-livered showing – and their season is slowly gathering momentum.

Yes, the colour of their jerseys might have been diluted, but this was no watered-down performance as Jose Mourinho’s side played the Hornets at their own strong-armed, no-nonsense game.

Two goals that were the direct result of problematic set-pieces gave the visitors breathing space in a purple patch towards the end of the first half.

Romelu Lukaku and Chris Smalling benefited from Marouane Fellaini’s prowess under the high ball, grabbing the goals as Mourinho deployed the big Belgium international to devastating effect.

And, although Andre Gray reduced the deficit with a sidefoot finish to set up a frantic finale going into the final quarter, the visitors refused to buckle.

In fact, by the final whistle, Mourinho (right) once more had keeper David de Gea to thank for his save in the final minute of injury time. The keeper pulled off a quite magnificent stop from Christian Kabasele’s header.

However, United’s boss will be without Nemanja Matic, who will miss next week’s home clash with Wolves after being sent off for the second of two bookings in the dying seconds.

Make no mistake, this trip was the Premier League equivalent of playing with fire.

Watford boss Javi Gracia picked up the Manager of the Month award before kick-off, after four straight wins.

And Mourinho and his team would have known that becoming the hosts’ fifth victims this season would have sparked suggestions that the title race would not be involving his club. Defeat would have left them nine points behind the pacesetters, and few are relishing a trip to Vicarage Road these days. The main opening action centred on De Gea’s goal, the Spaniard tipping over a drive from Troy Deeney as Watford sensed vulnerability. Slowly, but surely, however, the visitors exerted pressure. And, after Alexis Sanchez saw one strike chalked off after strayi start break befor

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