Watford 2-4 Man Utd: Lingard ends hosts' hopes of a comeback after Young brace in FH

Manchester United closed the gap at the top of the Premier League to five points after coasting to victory at Watford on Tuesday night.

England international Lingard scored a tremendous solo goal in the 86th minute to sting the Hornets, who set up a tense finale by rallying from three goals behind with just 13 minutes remaining.

Ashley Young returned to haunt his former club and ended a 560-day wait for a United goal with a first-half double, while Anthony Martial took advantage of a more central role afforded by Jose Mourinho's switch to a three-man defence with his eighth strike in all competitions this season – matching his tally from last term.

Romelu Lukaku wasted a glorious chance to mark his 200th Premier League appearance with a goal as his struggles in the box continued, but Watford captain Troy Deeney made no mistake from the spot on his return from a three-match ban for violent conduct.

Abdoulaye Doucoure boosted what had seemed an unlikely comeback when he struck six minutes from time, but Lingard capped an impressive display in the number 10 role with a stunning effort moments later.

That secured United's first win in four Premier League away games closed the gap to leaders Manchester City, who face Southampton on Wednesday, to five points.

GOALS

19: GOAL! Watford 0-1 Man United (Young)

25: GOAL! Watford 0-2 Man United (Young)

31: GOAL! Watford 0-3 Man United (Martial)

78: Goal! Watford 1-3 Man United (Deeney pen)

84: GOAL! Watford 2-3 Man United (Doucoure)

86: GOAL! Watford 2-4 Man United (Lingard)

MATCH EVENTS

11: Man Utd haven't started yet. They're losing a lot of 50/50s, and that will give Watford encouragement.

Femenia finds space on the right, but Rojo does well to block his cross and De Gea tips it over the bar for a corner. Richarlison heads goalwards from Zeegelaar's corner, but it's blocked in the penalty area and United clear.

19: GOAL! Watford 0-1 Man United (Young)

Wow, Man Utd have hit an opener here out of absolutely nothing.

Lingard is found by Lukaku after a nice turn on halfway, but it looks like the chance has gone as Lingard dwells. 

However, he finds Young on the left, and the ball pops up nicely for the wing-back... he then hits a superb half volley from 20 yards into the bottom left corner, giving Gomes no chance.

The former Watford man cups his ears to the home fans, just to add salt to the wound... fantastic strike! 

25: GOAL! Watford 0-2 Man United (Young)

Oh my. Ashley Young is on fire.

He steps up for the free-kick, 25 yards out, and curls a beauty into the top left corner, the goalkeeper's side.

You could question Gomes, who took a step to his left as Young stepped up, but it's a fantastic strike from Young to put them 2-0 up.

31: GOAL! Watford 0-3 Man United (Martial)

Clinical from United, Watford are wide open at the back and the visitors have punished them from their third shot on target.

Kabasele fails to clear a long ball, allowing Lukaku to tap the ball forward for Martial, who is through on goal.

He finishes with no problems, sweeping the ball low past Gomes and into the bottom right corner.

45: SAVE! AND AGAIN! What a double save from Gomes in the Watford net! Lukaku piles forward with power, and his right-footed effort is heading for the bottom left corner but for Gomes' strong hand.

It falls straight to Lingard, however, at a slight angle but should score, and Gomes recovers to somehow tip the ball over the bar! Brilliant goalkeeping.

45+2: OFF THE BAR! Nearly a goal back for Watford... Femenia does really well on the left to get to the byline and get a cross in towards Richarlison, but his header is against the crossbar and over! De Gea looked beaten...

51: Pogba's superb ball almost lets Lingard free down the right, but United win a corner anyway.

55: Rojo does well to clear a dangerous Watford corner, and then United break...

CHANCE! United are 4 v 4 with Watford as Martial piles forward, he feeds Lukaku on the right, but his ball across the face of goal is a couple yards ahead of Lingard!

76: CHANCE! Lukaku must score, must score, must score.... but doesn't!!

It's poor from Mariappa, who loses out near the penalty area to Rashford... he squares for Lukaku, who just has Gomes to beat. The 'keeper sits down, Lukaku dwells, and Doucoure gets back to pressure him into a shot at an angle, which goes wide!

77: CLOSE! Lukaku nearly makes amends a moment later, but strikes just wide from an acute angle on the left of the box... Gomes was stranded!

Silly from Marcos Rojo, and Watford have a goal back.

Pereyra's skill on the right byline dazzles the Argentine, who gets the wrong side of the Watford man. He sticks out a leg, and that's a definite penalty.

Deeney steps up, bottom left corner, De Gea goes right. Sloppy from the visitors.

78: Goal! Watford 1-3 Man United (Deeney pen)

A glimmer of hope perhaps? Watford pull a goal back through Troy Deeney's penalty with 13 minutes remaining as the sub sends De Gea the wrong way and tucks his spot kick into the bottom corner.

United can't have any real complaints over the award of the penalty either, with Carrillo beating Rojo in the box before being brought to ground by a rash challenge.

84: GOAL! Watford 2-3 Man United (Doucoure)

Carrillo is again the architect as he plays the ball to Doucoure just inside the area, and the midfielder dangles a foot at the ball to clip a brilliantly-controlled volley into the corner.

86: GOAL! Watford 2-4 Man United (Lingard)

Lingard kills off the Watford fightback in some style with a brilliant solo effort, picking the ball up on the halfway line and carry the ball past three Watford players before firing his low finish past the keeper. Sensational goal from Lingard.