Watford vs Manchester United: Ashley Young's patience pays off, Nemanja Matic could be major miss

Five things we learned: Watford's defensive woes continue as Jose Mourinho's side take an important three points

Ashley Young scored his first brace in five years for Manchester United

Manchester United survived a late comeback by Watford to pick up their third consecutive Premier League win and go within five points of leaders Manchester City.

A first-half brace by Ashley Young followed by Anthony Martial's cool finish put the visitors 3-0 ahead at the break, with Jose Mourinho's side comfortable for large spells against their defensively-suspect hosts.

Watford eventually fought back however, with Troy Deeney converting a penalty. Abdoulaye Doucouré reduced the deficit to just one goal with six minutes remaining, only for Jesse Lingard to make sure of United's win with a splendid solo effort.

Here are five things we learned from Vicarage Road...

Young’s brace deserved for years of patience

One winger-turned-wing-back should have won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award last year, another is staking his claim this term.

Ever since filling in at left-back against Everton in September, Ashley Young has provided a consistent and dependable presence in what was Jose Mourinho’s problem position. The Watford academy product’s displays over the last two months have been largely excellent, allowing his manager to fight fires elsewhere.

Young is 32-years-old now. His Old Trafford career could easily have ended two or three years back, when he found himself perennially on the fringes. His brace here - Young’s first two-goal haul for five years - was a deserved reward for such persistence and for taking his chance now it has arrived.

Matic could be a major miss

Nemanja Matic’s start to life at Manchester United has not been the unqualified success that many have made it out to be. Even here it was not the easiest of nights for the midfielder, but that does not make his early exit any less concerning.

Matic hobbled off the pitch around the hour mark with what appeared to be a muscle problem and with Arsenal and Manchester City on the horizon in United’s next two league fixtures, it could yet prove to be a costly injury.

Mourinho will be particularly frustrated as it breaks up his first-choice pivot partnership just over a week on from Paul Pogba’s return to the starting line-up. One of Ander Herrera or Marouane Fellaini will take Matic’s place if it serious, but neither offer the same control as the Serbian.

​Lindelof shows encouraging signs

As Victor Lindelof picked himself up from the ground following Newcastle United’s opener at Old Trafford ten days back, his United career looked like it could end before it had really had a chance to start.

Credit to the Mourinho, then, for persisting with the centre-back, who built on a man-of-the-match display in the weekend win over Brighton and Hove Albion with another commendable performance here.

The Swede did well, particularly in the first half when up against the in-form Richarlison, who he successfully nullified for large parts of the evening. These are baby steps for Lindelof, who still seems some way off being a starting Manchester United defender, but the signs are now more encouraging.

Three points needed to maintain pressure

Manchester City will not slip up against Southampton and West Ham United at home this week, meaning that if the derby on 10 December is to carry any real significance, United needed to win here before taking another three points at the Emirates on Saturday.

Mourinho simply could not allow a double-digit gap to open up, even at this stage of the season, as it would both look and feel insurmountable when considering the form Pep Guardiola’s side are in.

The three points and the manner in which they were won were important, as they allow United to travel to north London on Saturday confident spoiling Arsenal’s excellent home record and taking maximum momentum into the derby.

Watford run ragged at Vicarage Road again

This was supposed to be a difficult night’s work for United, but the most promising sign for the visitors was Watford’s surprisingly poor defensive record. At the start of the night, their 21 goals conceded was the top-flight’s fifth-worst record. 11 of those had come at home.

Manchester City’s rout at Vicarage Road in September appeared to have slightly skewed those statistics but after another dominant win for a top club, it is time to ask questions of Marco Silva’s defence.

Six conceded against Guardiola’s side, three against Liverpool on the opening day and now four at the hands of Jose Mourinho’s United. For all their impressive results on the road, Watford do not seem to be able to find consistency in front of their own fans.