Bruno Fernandes scored his first goal for Manchester United as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side edges past Watford at Old Trafford.

The January signing first-half penalty gave the hosts the lead before brilliant bits of completing from Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood after the break made sure about a 3-0 win.

Solskjaer returned to a back-four, with Mason Greenwood coming into the side to play wide on the right, while Scott McTominay was back among the substitutes having been out since Boxing Day with a knee injury.

Watford, in the interim, had Ismaila Sarr back on the seat following a month out, with Craig Dawson supplanting Adrian Mariappa as the main change to the side that attracted at Brighton preceding the middle of the season break.

Troy Deeney squandered a brilliant opportunity to open the scoring after a mistake between Harry Maguire and Nemanja Matic, deferring his shot and permitting the covering Luke Shaw to make an urgent test, while Abdoulaye Doucoure tried David De Gea as the guests made a splendid beginning.

At the opposite end, Aaron Wan-Bissaka could just discover the sidenetting after Daniel James’ cross was parried his way by Ben Foster, before the Welshman’s cunning reduction discovered Fred, just for the Brazilian to twist wide.

It was James’ inventiveness that in the long run helped break the halt right away before half-time as he sent Fernandes rushing in behind. The Portuguese stretched out beyond the sliding Foster and assumed liability from the spot himself, sending the Hornets goalkeeper the incorrect method to open his United record.

Watford thought they were level not long after the restart when Deeney packaged home after Dawson had occupied onto the woodwork, yet VAR indicated the ball had fallen off the safeguard’s arm.

Their hopelessness was intensified just before the hour mark when Martial’s awesome scooped finish over Foster gave United breathing space Greenwood set the limit for a brilliant day’s worth of effort when he bowed home by means of the underside of the bar with 15 minutes to play.

The Red Devils are now seated at the 5th place, 3 points behind bitter rivals, Chelsea who also recorded their best game so far this year when they thrashed Spurs.