Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign as permanent Manchester United manager began on a victorious note with a 2-1 victory over Watford on Saturday to move into fourth spot in the Premier League.

Goals by Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, Abdoulaye Doucoure getting a late goal for the visitors, took them above Arsenal and level on points with third-placed Tottenham, who play at Liverpool on Sunday, boosting Solskjaer hopes of achieving his first goal of securing Champions League football for next season.

The Stretford End was in no doubt about their former hero getting the job as a giant banner was unfurled as he emerged from the tunnel before he could take his position in the dugout.

But it was the visitors who started the brighter as Doucoure dragged a shot wide from a promising position while David de Gea had to claw away a header from Troy Deeney.

It was Watford's desire to go forward which proved their undoing as they were caught out by one of the counter-attacks that Manchester United have specialised in down the years.

Deeney failed to get his pass beyond Luke Shaw and the left-back sped forward, before looking up and playing a perfect ball into the space behind the defence for Rashford to sprint onto and coolly finish past the onrushing Ben Foster.

Watford continued to push forward after the break in search of an equaliser and Pereyra's goalbound effort was pushed behind by De Gea, while Will Hughes curled another shot beyond the far post.

It was no surprise to see Solskjaer respond with a double change as Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard were sent on and it worked a treat as the pair combined to tee up Martial, who scored from close range at the second attempt.

Watford kept pressing and Doucoure scored in the 90th minute as he showed fabulous footwork inside the area to make things nervous, but it was a little, too late to ruin Solskjaer's day.