Manchester United “should have been smoking cigars” in their Premier League victory over Watford, manager Jose Mourinho said.
United were leading 3-0 until the 77th minute when Watford netted twice in quick succession to set up a tense finish. But Jesse Lingard scored a stunning fourth for the visitors, picking the ball up inside his own half and driving forward into the box to settle the match.
Ashley Young scored twice against his old club, drilling in a precise finish from the edge of the box, before curling in a stunning 25-yard free-kick six minutes later and Anthony Martial tucked in a cool finish from 18 yards out.
Brazilian Richarlison looped a header against the crossbar for Watford, but Troy Deeney scored a penalty and Abdoulaye Doucoure poked home from inside the area with six minutes to go.
“The second half should have been five or six-nil, it was easier to score than the first. We missed chances,” Mourinho said.
“Out of nothing, they got a penalty for 3-1, then it was a different game. It was an easy match to win comfortably. At 3-2 the game is in the balance then Lingard had the initiative to kill the game.”
United cut the deficit to five points on unbeaten leaders Manchester City, although Pep Guardiola’s side can re-establish their eight-point advantage when they host Southampton on Wednesday.
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