MANCHESTER UNITED 1

Mctominay (5) WATFORD 0

Stand-in skipper Scott Mctominay secured Manchester United’s safe passage to the FA Cup fourth round with an early header against Watford.

Three days on from the galling Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made sweeping changes with crunch Premier League matches against Burnley and leaders Liverpool looming large.

Mctominay was one of two survivors from Wednesday’s loss and led United out as captain for the first time, with his early header proving enough to seal an unconvincing 1-0 victory against Championship outfit Watford.

Donny Van De Beek, Jesse

Lingard and Brandon Williams were among those brought in against the Hornets but the sheer number of changes meant the hosts struggled for coherency in a forgettable thirdround encounter.

There had been high hopes when academy graduate Mctominay’s downward header went in off the far post, but Solskjaer’s men failed to put their foot down as Watford targeted their set-piece frailties.

Recently-appointed Hornets boss Xisco Munoz saw his side push until the end at an empty Old Trafford, but they failed to create clear-cut openings against a United side that never got going.

Solskjaer will be relieved to be in tomorrow’s fourth-round draw and said afterwards: “The most important thing in the cup is that you go through so that will make everyone happy, but the first 15-20 minutes I think were the highlights of our game.

“I think we played some very good stuff, created chances and then we let them back into the game, but we are through.”

The unremarkable first half ended in an enforced changed for United after Eric Bailly was caught in the back of the head by goalkeeper Dean Henderson when punching clear.

After lengthy treatment, the defender walked off groggily and was replaced by Harry Maguire, who took the captain’s armband back off Mctominay at the break.

Solskjaer had introduced Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in a bid to add some increased intent to the hosts’ attack, with substitute Ken Sema’s set-pieces looking Watford’s most likely avenue to a leveller.

Maguire had a header and Rashford was denied by a low Bachmann save as the match entered the final 10 minutes, with Watford substitute Joseph Hungbo seeing a strike deflected wide as they failed to find an equaliser.