Sir Alex Ferguson often said Manchester United liked to make life hard for themselves. They have mostly just been hard to watch during Louis van Gaal’s short time at the club.

Van Gaal smiled after the dramatic victory over Watford that lifted United into second place, a point below Leicester City, and as he explained why he was unhappy with his side’s positional play, he poked fun at the critics who have called his football boring this season.

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United’s manager likes his team to play with a solid structure on and off the ball, arguing that what some people see as sterile domination is actually designed to wear opponents down. Their movement was more unpredictable at Vicarage Road and Watford found space in the final 30 minutes.

Quique Sánchez Flores’s side were denied an equaliser by two stunning saves from David de Gea and they finally hauled themselves level thanks to a Troy Deeney penalty in the 87th minute. It was the first goal the team with the best defensive record in the Premier League had conceded since CSKA Moscow’s Seydou Doumbia beat De Gea on 21 October and the slip seemed to enhance Van Gaal’s preference for a technically perfect but slightly cold harmony over the free jazz approach that had confused Watford for an hour.

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Yet Deeney’s equaliser acted as a spur for United. It liberated them, brought their soul to the surface, and it seemed like they were a Ferguson team during the final few minutes. They laid furious siege to the Watford goal and the winner arrived when the unfortunate Deeney turned in Bastian Schweinsteiger’s shot after Heurelho Gomes saved Jesse Lingard’s effort. Fergie Time became Louis Time.

Van Gaal praised his team’s spirit and he also acknowledged that the system suited his speedier attacking players. With Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial missing, Memphis Depay, Juan Mata and Lingard formed an unorthodox front three. Ander Herrera schemed intelligently behind them and he made Depay’s goal after 11 minutes with a cross from the right. Depay, Lingard and Mata interchanged positions beautifully in the first half and at times Watford’s defenders were uncertain about who they were supposed to be marking.

It was an important performance for Depay, who was back in the starting XI after a spell on the bench, and he combined well with Lingard. Their pace on the break troubled Watford, although some wasteful finishing almost let the hosts off the hook.

The bigger frustration for United was losing Herrera to a hamstring injury and Phil Jones to a twisted ankle. They were already missing Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Martial, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia and James Wilson, although Van Gaal expects Rooney to recover from his illness in time for the visit of PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Their squad is stretched and Van Gaal is still searching for the right balance, but Chelsea’s struggles and the inconsistencies of Arsenal and Manchester City have made this an open title race. United are strong in defence, where Chris Smalling continues to grow in stature, and late goals in difficult away matches are invaluable. A point against a tough Watford side would not have been a disastrous result, but United responded with the kind of resolve that will concern their rivals.

They visit Leicester on Saturday and if they need any inspiration, they should look back to 14 October 2000. Leicester began the day in first place and United finished it there after goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer secured a thumping 3-0 win at Filbert Street.

Man of the match Chris Smalling (Manchester United)