FA Cup

MANCHESTER UNITED booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Watford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer picked a much-changed team for the Championship club’s visit.

Scott McTominay excelled with the armband on in Saturday’s winCredit: Getty Images – Getty

But it was Scott McTominay who proved his worth once again with a fifth-minute winner.
Jesse Lingard, Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams were all handed chances to impress from the start.
Here, SunSport’s Oscar Paul delivers his verdict on the individual performances on Saturday night.
Dean Henderson – 6/10
Raced off his line early on to save from Adam Masina but looked frantic and had a couple of uncomfortable moments in the first-half. 

KO’d Eric Bailly, was nearly caught out in no man’s land haring out of his box, and his distribution was mixed. Barely tested by Watford as the Hornets chased an equaliser. 
Brandon Williams – 6
Aggressive and assured in the unfamiliar right-back role, although it was far from a tough night with Watford’s limited threat coming down the opposite flank.
Offered little going forward as the Red Devils struggled to open Watford up.
Eric Bailly – 6
A couple of loose balls and nervy moments at the back, and flashed a free header wide at the other end.

Replaced by Harry Maguire just before the break after being clattered by Dean Henderson.
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Eric Bailly was forced off after suffering a nasty head injuryCredit: Reuters
Axel Tuanzebe – 7
Solid and composed in a rare start for the 23-year-old.
An important goal-line clearance in the first half kept things level before keeping Watford chances down to a minimum in the second.
Alex Telles  – 7
The Brazilian’s outswinging corner was met by Scott McTominay to get United up and running, before a carbon copy was nodded wide by Eric Bailly.
Recovered well against the dangerous Ismaila Sarr having got himself in a muddle a couple of times.
Scott McTominay – 8
A dream night. Captain for the first time, McTominay’s header got United up and running inside five minutes.
But just like legendary skippers Bryan Robson and Roy Keane, the midfielder did the dirty work at the back with some pivotal interventions.

Captain McTominay flung himself at an early corner to notch the winnerCredit: PA:Press Association
Donny van de Beek – 7
A sublime flick to put Juan Mata in on goal was the one moment of pure class in a dull tie.  
Dictated the play early on with plenty of the ball and, after three minutes in United’s previous four games, the Dutchman has to be close to a run of starts in the league.
Daniel James – 6
A lively start but his decision-making and finishing continues to frustrate.
Blew a couple of decent chances before being replaced as United faded as an attacking force.
Juan Mata – 6
Should have scored on his left peg after being beautifully played in by Donny van de Beek.
On his 400th game in English football, the Spaniard found some promising positions but failed to get the United attack purring.

Juan Mata was one of many players handed a rare start versus WatfordCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Jesse Lingard – 5
No disaster but did little to suggest he will be anywhere near the league side anytime soon.
Kept things neat and tidy but failed to impose himself in his first start since September.
Mason Greenwood – 5
A quiet night after being handed a golden chance to make the lone striker’s position his own.
Could not get in the game and barely had a sight of goal before being replaced by Anthony Martial.
Subs:
Harry Maguire  (for Bailly, 45) – 6
Would have been hoping for a rare night off but replaced the injured Eric Bailly just before half-time.
Some trademark headers and clearances but was rarely troubled. Went close with a header at the other end late on.

Harry Maguire (right) came off the bench to help see out the winCredit: EPA

Anthony Martial (for Greenwood, 69) – 6
Brought on for Mason Greenwood to add a spark but did not have a sniff. 
Marcus Rashford (for James, 69) – 6 
A great run down the left minutes after coming on but his shot was straight at the keeper.
Nemanja Matic (for Lingard, 79) – 6 
Replaced Jesse Lingard to close the game out and got through the last ten minutes unruffled. 
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SO ANOTHER Cup journey begins for Manchester United.
The last four over a year have ended at the semi-final stage so what will the 2020-21 FA Cup hold in store?

Scott McTominay scored early for Manchester United on Saturday nightCredit: PA:Press Association

The fifth-minute header was enough to secure passage to the fourth roundCredit: AFP or licensors

Well, their first hurdle in this third round has been cleared for the ten time winners, most recently lifting the trophy back in 2016.
That was under Louis van Gaal when the Red Devils football was a painful watch.
Not so much now, despite the disappointment last week of that fourth consecutive semi-final defeat, this time to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup.
Solskjaer says there is no mental problem when his team gets too close to glory.

Still he would love to prove it and club football’s oldest competition offers another chance for the manager who twice lifted it as a player.
Victory was secured with a goal in just the fifth minute from the head of Scott McTominay.
With nine changes to their team they could not find their usual rhythm, however Watford made seven and rattled the home side.
Despite the lip service that is paid to this competition, all those changes proved once more that the league is simply more important.

Particularly when United have the chance to go top of the table on Tuesday if they avoid defeat at Turf Moor when they take on Burnley.
For Championship side Watford, FA Cup finalists in 2019, the aim is simply to get back into the top-flight at the first attempt after going down last season.
Xisco Munoz is the latest incumbent in the Hornets’ hotseat but after three games must already be fearing for his job following this second successive defeat – well it is Watford.
Still his side could be proud of their efforts.
Despite the changes Solskjaer made this was still a strong United side and one that had the confidence boost of that early lead.
McTominay met Alex Telles outswinging corner with a downward header that bounced up off the turf into the top corner beyond Daniel Rachmann’s despairing dive.
You might have expected the floodgates to then open.
But Watford steadied, stayed in the game and only an excellent save by Dean Henderson on 16 minutes denied them an equaliser.
Adam Masina had a close-range shot from an angle but Henderson made himself big and saved with his leg before Axel Tuanzebe cleared from in front of his own line.
Watford’s defending from corners was leaving something to be desired.
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Eric Bailly was forced off after a first-half head injuryCredit: Reuters

The Ivorian became entangled in a high battle for the ballCredit: Reuters
McTominay had already scored from one when Eric Bailly was given plenty of space in the box to meet another Telles out swinger but this time the header went just wide of the far post.
Donny van de Beek was given a rare chance to shine from the start.
There has been much consternation back in Holland as to why the £40million signing from Ajax has been afforded so little game time.
This was only his ninth start.
Solskjaer clearly feels he needs more time to adapt to the English game.
Still there is no doubting his talent as was showcased in the 43rd minute when a clever flick with his instep gave Juan Mata a free hit from an angle which Bachmann denied him with an outstretched leg.
There was a worrying moment right at the end of the first half when Henderson came off his line and jumped to punch clear kneeing Eric Bailly in the head on the way.
He was attended too and taken off looking dazed with Harry Maguire coming on to replace him.

Bailly had been at the centre of the games only controversial moment before that which left Watford could understandably aggrieved going at not being awarded a penalty.
It was the 32 minute when the ball bounced off Alex Tuanzebe and up onto the arm of Bailly.
The centre-half had lifted his arm up, so it could have been deemed to be in an unnatural position but both referee Andrew Madley and VAR Peter Bankes gave him the benefit of the doubt.
The changes made by Solskjaer afforded some the chance to make the boss have a rethink when it came to league games, but they weren’t all taken.
Certainly not by Mason Greenwood to lay claim for the central striker’s role.
His spark has gone since his antics in Iceland saw him kicked out of the England camp.
And what has happened to Jesse Lingard, not long ago a regular for Red Devils and Three Lions, now unable to sting The Hornets?
This was only his second start of the season and the rustiness showed.

The Red Devils were unable to grab a second to kill the tieCredit: AFP or licensors

Jesse Lingard featured for a much-changed United sideCredit: AFP or licensors

Solskjaer had been hoping to keep his main frontmen Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial on the bench ahead of the Burnley game.
But such was the precarious look of the scoreboard he had to bring both into the action on 68 minutes.
James and the ineffective Greenwood making way.
Rashford would have a chance to seal the deal when he charged into the box but Bachmann again came to the rescue.
It would not prove costly. United through.
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