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United keep powder dry for tougher tasks ahead

Sir Alex Ferguson had declared beforehand that his Manchester United team were “going to give someone a hammering” and so, ultimately, it proved.

Maybe it was not quite as one-sided as Adrian Boothroyd, his Watford counterpart, had predicted when he likened it to a boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Jimmy Krankie, but it was a cruel mismatch all the same.

It took three goals in 11 second-half minutes to turn an uncomfortable evening into a rout for United, but that brief purple patch underlined where each of these teams is headed this season. If there was something tragi-comic about the first two goals, a penalty converted by Cristiano Ronaldo and an own goal by Lloyd Doyley, the third and fourth, from Henrik Larsson and Wayne Rooney, showed both the attacking flair that has kept United six points clear of Chelsea in the Barclays Premiership title race and the shortcomings of a Watford team who seem bound for relegation no matter their work ethic, spirit or organisation.

It is tempting to describe it as men against boys, if not in terms of age then in terms of experience and reputation. United's outstanding players, Ronaldo and Rooney, are, remarkably, only 21 — older than Adrian Mariappa and Alhassan Bangura but considerably younger than Doyley and Tommy Smith. Both were born to play at the very highest level and it was the sight of those two arresting talents in full flow that led Boothroyd afterwards to suggest that Watford had been beaten by a team that “might possibly be the best in the world at the moment”.

“Watford have had a hard season and there was no need to do any more,” Ferguson said, suggesting that he would have been unhappy had his team twisted the knife any further. In reality, it was probably more to do with preservation for the battles ahead, but, with Louis Saha returning to full training yesterday after a knee injury, United appear fighting fit. As for Watford, they are not quite Jimmy Krankie, but they are less than distinctly fandabidozi. The Times

Rooney conducts Ferguson's orchestra to greater heights

No English beacon from the World Cup or young Welshman with immense potential and a price-tag to match rode into Old Trafford ahead of the transfer deadline yet Manchester United were otherwise uncomplicated and ruthless in business last night, drawing the priority of the Premiership crown one step closer and captivated by confirmation that Wayne Rooney will have a major say in closing the deal.

Sir Alex Ferguson may soon forget the frustration of attempting to improve his squad with Owen Hargreaves and Gareth Bale this month if Rooney, instrumental in all four goals as United eventually stamped style and superiority on basement club Watford, maintains the form and exuberance that has coursed through his veins since breaking his barren spell at the Emirates Stadium 10 days ago.

There was another delicate chip into the Stretford End goal last night for the England striker, another mesmerising display from Cristiano Ronaldo, but it was the ease with which United restored confidence and winning ways following the late collapse at Arsenal in their last League outing that strengthened Ferguson's conviction in the championship credentials of his existing squad. Prior to the arrival of Aidy Boothroyd's spirited but limited team the United manager ordered 12 wins from the 14 remaining Premiership fixtures to claim a first title in four seasons - now they seek 11. The only downside is they will not all be as simple as this.

"It was very comfortable," the Scot admitted. "Watford set out their stall to defend but when they put two up front in the second half and became more positive, the game opened up. We made and missed a lot of chances, but you have to be satisfied with 4-0. Watford have had a hard season and there was no need for more than that. We are another goal better off than Chelsea. It has been a good night."

Ferguson rates Boothroyd as one of the brightest young managers in the game and insists his star will remain in the ascendancy even if, as appears ever likely, Watford's Premiership status has disappeared in the opposite direction at the end of this campaign. He is unlikely to alter that opinion following the glowing eulogy that Boothroyd paid on Ferguson's doorstep. "This team can be one of the best in the world because they have world-class players and I think they will go on and do it this year," he said. "And he [Ferguson] is a winner. And a bad loser." The Independent

United sink Boothroyd further in mire

Sir Alex Ferguson and Aidy Boothroyd can agree on one thing; they both require 11 victories to achieve their respective goals of winning the championship and avoiding the Championship.

One is an achievable ambition, the other would require the sort of comeback achieved by Roy Race and Melchester Rovers, another overachieving team who played in a kind of yellow and red.

It is a tribute to Watford's resilience and appetite for work that they have yet to be completely humiliated this season. Last night's result matched their worst of the campaign, a 4-0 reverse in the equally unforgiving surroundings of Stamford Bridge. However, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading what was essentially a half-strength Manchester United side with an imperial swagger, the scoreline might have carried a very cruel stamp.

Boothroyd, whose name was chanted by his supporters when Watford were four down, was grimly philosophical. "We came with a game plan but not every plan succeeds, especially if you don't get the ball.

"We have a turnover of four per cent of Manchester United's and to even be at this place is a credit to our players. Beating United at Old Trafford was never going to keep us in the Premier League, winning our home games is the only way to do that."

Afterwards, Ferguson, who has a great liking for Boothroyd, sounded almost pleased that Watford had not been completely humbled. It might have been an attempt at kindness or to build the game up into something it was not but the match programme described Watford as "buoyant".

Even after a couple of recent victories, they came to Old Trafford with the kind of buoyancy experienced by the Titanic an hour after the iceberg struck while the sale of Ashley Young tended to suggest Boothroyd was preparing the lifeboats. As he proved for Aston Villa at St James' Park last night, Young did at least have the potential to score.

The closest Watford came was a cross from Chris Powell – who at the age of 37 found himself pressed into service as a midfielder – that landed on Tomasz Kuszczak's post. Daily Telegraph

Rooney helps leaders United turn Watford gap into yawning chasm

Manchester United have the air of a team in complete control of their own destiny, so a side of Watford's limitations were always going to struggle in a contest their manager Aidy Boothroyd had likened to "Muhammad Ali against Jimmy Krankie".

The Premiership's bottom club have plenty of fight but precious little class and, despite punching so far above their weight for the early part of last night, they were suitably seen off with the ease of someone swatting away a bothersome fly.

The gulf between the sides was accurately reflected by the margin of victory and a perfectionist such as Sir Alex Ferguson was entitled to muse whether his side should have won by a more handsome margin. The Guardian