Juan Mata scored his eighth of the season on a night he was named captain
Juan
Mata's late free-kick earned Manchester United a win over Watford to
move them level on points with fourth-placed Manchester City.
United striker Marcus Rashford was quiet in the first half as Watford's Odion Ighalo wasted two good chances. But the hosts improved when Rashford switched places with Anthony Martial and the Frenchman won the free-kick which Mata curled in from 20 yards.
City have a game in hand on United, who earned a fourth successive win.
Had Ighalo not shot wide from Troy Deeney's flick-on or chose to pass to his strike partner when David de Gea thwarted the Nigerian, the story of the match may have been very different.
But buoyed by the recent form of Rashford and Mata scoring his eighth goal of the season, the prospect of United reaching next season's Champions League looks a distinct possibility after their city rivals lost 3-0 at Liverpool.
