Ashley Young struck twice against his old club as Manchester United put their recent travel sickness behind them with a 4-2 victory at Watford to close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City to five points.
Manchester United's Ashley Young. Photo: Photosport
United, beaten in their last two away league games, began slowly on Wednesday but Young, without a goal for 18 months, struck twice in six minutes midway through the first half before Anthony Martial scored a third before the break to stun the hosts.
Watford made a fight of it after the break with substitute Troy Deeney scoring from the spot and when Abdoulaye Doucoure grabbed a second in the 84th minute it seemed the hosts could yet salvage something for their efforts.
Two minutes later, however, Jesse Lingard scored a superb individual goal on the counter-attack to settle United's nerves.
Second-placed United have 32 points with City, who host Southampton on Thursday, on 37.
At the King Power Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur's slump continued as Leicester City beat them 2-1 with Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez on target to avenge last season's home mauling by the Londoners.
Thrashed 6-1 by Mauricio Pochettino's side in May, Leicester produced a performance more like that which took them to the Premier League title in 2015-16, leaving Spurs reeling after a third defeat in their last five league games.
Vardy put the hosts ahead after 13 minutes, cleverly lobbing a volley over Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris after being put through by Marc Albrighton's chipped pass.
Spurs responded with Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli having chances to equalise but were dealt a crushing blow on the stroke of halftime when Mahrez cut in from the right and sent a spectacular dipping effort into the top corner.
Tottenham's Argentine forward Erik Lamela came on for his first appearance in 13 months after injury and set up Harry Kane to smash home a late reply.
In the day's other matches, West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United drew 2-2 while Brighton and Crystal Palace battled to a 0-0 stalemate.
Visitors Newcastle looked to be heading for a fifth straight Premier League defeat until a Ciaran Clark header and an own goal gave them a deserved share opf the points at the Hawthorns.
West Brom striker Hal Robson-Kanu scored on the stroke of halftime and winger Sam Field looked to have put the game out of reach 11 minutes into the second half.
Newcastle were thrown a lifeline when defender Ciaran Clarke reduced the deficit three minutes later with a towering header from a corner by Matt Ritchie, whose free kick was deflected into the net for the equaliser in the 83rd minute.
The Premier League's bottom team Palace won their first away point of the season after holding Brighton in a match lacking action.
It was the first time Palace had kept a clean sheet this campaign, but they also missed the game's best chances, as home keeper Mathew Ryan made a fine double save to deny Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha in the 14th minute.
- Reuters
