Fernandes scored his first goal for United from the penalty spot
Bruno Fernandes' first Manchester United goal set his new club on their way to a comfortable home win against relegation-threatened Watford and into fifth in the Premier League.
Fernandes, a £47m January signing from Sporting Lisbon, converted a 42nd-minute penalty after he had been taken out by Watford keeper Ben Foster.
The goal ended a 236-minute wait for a United home goal in the Premier League after they had failed to score against Burnley and Wolves.
Anthony Martial scored an excellent second on Sunday after Watford's Troy Deeney had a goal ruled out by VAR for handball in the build-up. Mason Greenwood, 18, lashed home his 11th of the season 15 minutes from time to complete United's scoring.
After beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday, it was only the third time this season that United had won successive Premier League games.
While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have now moved into the top five, Watford remain second from bottom.
'Bruno, Bruno'
Fernandes celebrates with Martial after the striker doubled United's lead
Fernandes' Old Trafford arrival has provided an injection of enthusiasm on and off the pitch.
The United fans sing "Bruno, Bruno" in the way they used to chant Wayne Rooney's name. They certainly respond to his directness, and it was from one such burst that Foster brought him down for the goal.
Given the midfielder's elaborate jump as he ran up to take the kick, he needed to score - and he did, with Foster diving the wrong way.
Martial also seems to have responded to Fernandes' arrival.
The Frenchman's latest goal means he has found the net in three consecutive games for the first time since September 2017.
The manner of it was superb - first nudging Christian Kabasele aside, then brilliantly finding space with a neat bit of skill after Foster's initial save had returned the ball to him before keeping his composure to chip into an empty net.
Greenwood has taken a back seat in recent weeks after all the attention he was afforded in the early part of the season, but he also made his mark by smashing a shot into the roof of Watford's net to end any lingering hopes of a Watford comeback.
Watford's worry
Watford's equaliser was ruled out by VAR for a handball
Watford's noisy band of supporters cannot have travelled north with much optimism.
Their side have still never won at Old Trafford, and have now lost nine in a row since their last draw in 1995.
They did have chances. Deeney took too long to try to profit from a ridiculous early mix-up in the home defence, and Luke Shaw snuffed out the chance. Abdoulaye Doucoure also forced a decent save out of David de Gea when the game was still goalless.
There was also the obligatory chant against VAR - in front of watching referee's chief Mike Riley - after Deeney's 'equaliser' was ruled out, although the handball decision given against defender Craig Dawson as he met the corner that preceded the goal was automatic under the current regulations.
After an encouraging start under Nigel Pearson, who became their third manager of the season on 6 December, Watford have now collected a single point from their last four games.
They still have to play Leicester and Manchester City, who have already beaten them 8-0 this season, in a tricky run-in that begins against Liverpool at Vicarage Road on 29 February.
Harry Gregg remembered
Prior to the game, there was an impeccably observed minute's silence for former United keeper Harry Gregg, who died on 16 February, aged 87.
In addition to a the silence, a banner was pulled across the Stretford End, proclaiming Gregg's name with a picture of the man who will forever be remembered for pulling survivors out of the wreckage following the Munich air crash in 1958, in which eight of his team-mates were killed.
Sir Bobby Charlton, who watched today's game from the directors' box, is the only player from that day still alive.
Man of the match - Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Fernandes is the first Manchester United player whose maiden Premier League goal for the club was a penaltyWhat's next?
Manchester United's next game is on Thursday, when they entertain Club Brugge in the second leg of their Europa League last-32 tie, currently level at 1-1. They then visit Everton next Sunday, 1 March, in the Premier League (14:00 GMT).
Watford's next game is at home to Premier League leaders Liverpool on Saturday, 29 February (17:30 GMT).
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Man Utd
1de Gea
29Wan-Bissaka
2Lindelöf
5Maguire
23Shaw
17FredSubstituted forMcTominayat 79'minutes
31Matic
26GreenwoodSubstituted forChongat 80'minutes
18Bruno Fernandes
21James
9MartialSubstituted forIghaloat 80'minutes
Substitutes
3Bailly
8Mata
22Romero
25Ighalo
39McTominay
44Chong
53Williams
Watford
26Foster
4Dawson
27Kabasele
15CathcartBooked at 67mins
11Masina
19Hughes
29Capoue
37PereyraSubstituted forSarrat 69'minutes
16DoucouréSubstituted forCleverleyat 80'minutes
7Deulofeu
9DeeneySubstituted forWelbeckat 76'minutes
Substitutes
1Gomes
6Mariappa
8Cleverley
10Welbeck
14Chalobah
18Gray
23Sarr
Referee:
Martin Atkinson
Attendance:
73,347
Match Stats
Home TeamMan UtdAway TeamWatford
Possession
Home58%
Away42%
Shots
Home21
Away7
Shots on Target
Home9
Away2
Corners
Home3
Away5
Fouls
Home6
Away15
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Manchester United 3, Watford 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, Manchester United 3, Watford 0.
Posted at 90'+1'
Nemanja Matic (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Will Hughes (Watford).
Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United).
Posted at 90'+1'
Danny Welbeck (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt blocked. Odion Ighalo (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nemanja Matic.
Posted at 89'
Attempt missed. Tahith Chong (Manchester United) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Nemanja Matic.
Posted at 87'
Scott McTominay (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 87'
Foul by Tom Cleverley (Watford).
Posted at 86'
Attempt saved. Gerard Deulofeu (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Scott McTominay (Manchester United).
Posted at 86'
Gerard Deulofeu (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 86'
Attempt blocked. Adam Masina (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Craig Dawson.
Posted at 85'
Foul by Scott McTominay (Manchester United).
Posted at 85'
Craig Cathcart (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 84'
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Adam Masina.
Posted at 84'
Attempt blocked. Odion Ighalo (Manchester United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked.
Posted at 82'
Tahith Chong (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Will Hughes (Watford).
Posted at 81'
Foul by Luke Shaw (Manchester United).
Posted at 81'
Ismaila Sarr (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 81'
Attempt missed. Harry Maguire (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Nemanja Matic with a cross following a set piece situation.
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Watford. Tom Cleverley replaces Abdoulaye Doucouré.
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Manchester United. Odion Ighalo replaces Anthony Martial.
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Manchester United. Tahith Chong replaces Mason Greenwood.
SubstitutionPosted at 79'
Substitution, Manchester United. Scott McTominay replaces Fred.
Posted at 79'
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Etienne Capoue (Watford).
Posted at 77'
Gerard Deulofeu (Watford) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Will Hughes.
SubstitutionPosted at 76'
Substitution, Watford. Danny Welbeck replaces Troy Deeney.
Goal!Posted at 75'
Goal! Manchester United 3, Watford 0. Mason Greenwood (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes following a fast break.
Posted at 73'
Fred (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 73'
Foul by Troy Deeney (Watford).
Posted at 71'
Offside, Watford. Ben Foster tries a through ball, but Gerard Deulofeu is caught offside.
Posted at 70'
Attempt blocked. Christian Kabasele (Watford) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Will Hughes with a cross.
Posted at 70'
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Victor Lindelöf.
SubstitutionPosted at 69'
Substitution, Watford. Ismaila Sarr replaces Roberto Pereyra.
Posted at 68'
Attempt missed. Harry Maguire (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes with a cross following a set piece situation.
BookingPosted at 67'
Craig Cathcart (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Source: bbc.com