Wayne Rooney (two), Cristiano Ronaldo and Kieran Richardson all scored, and although Watford were level at 1-1 when Hameur Bouazza struck, United always looked the stronger side.
However, booking a place at the new Wembley Stadium on May 19 May to face either Chelsea or Blackburn came with a hefty price tag.
Amid the celebrations of an eighth final appearance under Sir Alex Ferguson the concerns in the United camp were obvious following the loss of Rio Ferdinand to a groin injury.
With John O’Shea missing, Nemanja Vidic and Mikael Silvestre sidelined with long-term problems and Gary Neville at least a week away from a return to action from his ankle problem, Ferguson’s defensive options have been ravaged to the extent Darren Fletcher was forced into the right-back role, with rookie Youth Cup star Craig Cathcart the only alternative.
At such a crucial stage of their treble bid, and with so many opponents to face of far superior quality than Championship-bound Watford, United are facing the biggest test of their season.
Hammering
Sheffield United, fresh from their hammering of West Ham, meet United on Tuesday, although Ferguson will at least allow his players the luxury of some celebration before addressing the Blades’ visit.
For, while never hitting the heights of their seven-goal rout of Roma, the Red Devils still managed a thrill or two, and in Rooney had a stand-out star who looks set to be a major influence on United’s bid for honours over the coming weeks.
Having witnessed United’s awesome strength first hand on Tuesday, the last thing Aidy Boothroyd would have wanted was for his side to concede as early as the sixth minute.
The spellbinding movement of Rooney, Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs had already caused Watford a few headaches before they were opened up in startlingly simple fashion.
Gabriel Heinze started the move with an inside pass to Michael Carrick. The former Tottenham man quickly fed Rooney, who stepped inside Adrian Mariappa and promptly smashed the ball into the roof of Richard Lee’s net.
Fists raised in triumph, Ferguson emerged from his dug-out to celebrate, the Red Devils fans roared and Villa Park awaited a slaughter.
The intense pressure duly came but Watford gamely clung on and received an unexpected reward when Bouazza levelled.
United’s defence appeared to lose concentration during a lengthy stoppage while Edwin van der Sar had treatment for a bang on his nose.
Jay DeMerit helped back a long Gavin Mahon throw back into the box and Bouazza got a firm strike on a volley which bounced in off the crossbar after flicking off Heinze.
Had Watford remained on terms for any length of time, particularly given Ferdinand’s early departure, they would have scented a shock.
Ignited
Instead, their equaliser merely ignited their opponents - and Rooney in particular - to greater effort.
The England striker has had his critics this season but his determination to shove United in front again was immense.
Charging to the touchline, Rooney first won possession with a robust aerial challenge on Jordan Stewart. He then totally outpaced the Watford full-back as he strode onto Smith’s return pass before delaying his cross long enough for Ronaldo to steal between two defenders and tap home one of the easier goals of the 21 he has scored this term.
Yet again, United were dominant, some of their play mesmerising.
But their enthusiasm was cut short by Ferdinand’s glum trudge to the touchline, accepting the futility of carrying on in such pain.
His exit triggered a defensive reshuffle which saw Fletcher fill in at right-back, with Heinze alongside Wes Brown in the centre.
The uncertainty within United’s defence was obvious immediately after the re-start as Bouazza volleyed a good chance wide after another Mahon through created mayhem.
Van der Sar was then required to palm a Bouazza cross-shot away from his own bar and the sight of Ferguson exchanging angry words with Giggs was a sure sign of tension in the United camp.
Thankfully for Ferguson, his attack remains in tact and after providing Rooney with a tap-in, Smith fed Richardson, who completed a win which looked much more comfortable than it was.
What is your verdict on the game? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Joe, Malta (14/04/2007 at 19:49)
george (14/04/2007 at 20:00)
COLIN, CANADA, Canada (14/04/2007 at 20:01)
keithmat (14/04/2007 at 20:04)
Danny, Wilmslow (14/04/2007 at 20:25)
seamus vanisle ex-stretford (14/04/2007 at 20:26)
Dave Pickup (14/04/2007 at 22:06)
Dave Pickup (14/04/2007 at 22:06)
Davey Boy, Kuwait (15/04/2007 at 07:01)
dupont, Tinajin (15/04/2007 at 08:14)
manc abroad, OT (15/04/2007 at 12:11)
redmark, manchester (15/04/2007 at 12:49)
It was really a practise match.
My motm had to go out the smithy total energy and what an engine that lad has,hes got to be in utd's up and coming new breed.
Shame about rio ,but i think olf fletcher did well yet again as left back cover,and id have liked to see cathcart get a game now as well as dong,we have to start introducing the fledgelings.
Richardson need's moregames and when he gets them and that goal yesterday hell come good im sure,that lad just needs games and practise and encouragement.
de Meester, netherlands (15/04/2007 at 13:39)
A good solid, professional (dare I add!) win!
Pity for Watford, who for all their fight and spirit came too short on quality, without being too damining.
I hope Rio recovers quickly because at Sheffield we'll be up against it!
I think Fegoz should play (horses for courses!), people in their proper positions and young Cathcart should play at r-back, and O'S in middle with Wes!
It's now a matter of the rest doing their jobs and taking a breather after games.
Hopefully Nevs fit shortly (he'll be thirsty!) and the shirts getting through tghe next couple of weeks as well as possible.
I think we'll do it, we have the momentum and will within us!
Up The Reds
Anthony, Hamilton,Ontario,Canada (15/04/2007 at 15:40)
Alf For The Devils, Ipswich (15/04/2007 at 22:12)
Dromarared, Northern Ireland (16/04/2007 at 08:43)
The match itself seemed closer to me than the score suggests and I nearly had a heart attack when Darren came on as a back. Fair play to him he did really quite well and I liked Wes and gabby in the centre. perhaps if J O's is fit for Tuesday Wes and Gabby in the centre would work well. i thought Edwin had a bad game even before the digraceful bangs he continually received without any word from the ref. But hey everyone has an off day, we won and he has saved us on numerous occasions. Best to get an off day out of the way now!
Wembley here I come (I hope!)
Ella
Mick, Dublin (16/04/2007 at 09:35)
Get a grip! It may have escaped your notice but we just won an FA CUP SEMI-FINAL by 4 GOALS TO ONE, with 3 of our first-choice back 4 injured, two of our remaining squad defenders also injured and our third-choice striker playing up front on his own. And that's without even mentioning Ji-Sung Park!
Meanwhile, Chavski get forced into extra time with only one player injured in their entire squad. Playing against a team we slaughtered this time last weekend.
So please, no more bleating about a lack of strength in depth. I'm sick to the back teeth of Mourinho banging on about how much adversity Chelsea have had to overcome when, at no point this season, has he had to play with as many of his first XI out injured as we have, over the last two games. Two games in which we've scored eleven goals and played some of the best football I've seen in years!
"Lack of strength in depth"? You're 'avin a laff!
Utd-For-Life, marseille ex-stretford (16/04/2007 at 10:00)
Demo, Glossop (16/04/2007 at 10:01)
oh and keithmatt you are truly having a laugh suggesting the ginger nugget has had his day and is going backwards!
mention to richardson who i have slated all season he took the goal really well! maybe there is something that fergie can see! time wil tel
Macca, Cornwall (16/04/2007 at 10:12)
bobbydazzler (16/04/2007 at 10:25)
Mick, Dublin (16/04/2007 at 10:51)
Just like Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, we have some areas of our squad where our strength in depth is less good than others.
If you're being picky, you could argue that our strength in depth in midfield is poor, especially on the flanks. But we've seen that players like O'Shea, Fletch and Park have all done their bit this season. It's a shame that KR has failed to make an impact but stuff happens.
Up front, we're fine. Much better off than any of our title rivals. When Alan Smith was struggling to get match fit, SAF did an inspired bit of business in picking up Larsson on a short-term deal and we've coped without Ole and Saha for long stretches this season far better than, for example, Chavski could have coped without Drogba and Slowchenko.
Our defensive cover is, as you say, second to none.
So, looking at our squad as a whole, I maintain now what I said at the start of the season, the squad of footballers at MUFC is as good, if not better than any other squad in the Premiership.
Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (16/04/2007 at 14:56)
Mick, Dublin (16/04/2007 at 15:15)
By "positions that we all know need improving", I assume you mean central midfield? Because, unless I'm very much mistaken, some of our best performances this season have come without Paul Scholes on the pitch. And we all agree how good he is, so playing that well without him surely means we've got some strength in depth?
Or do you mean up front? Can I remind you who scored our second (and best) goal against the Romans and has been getting rave reviews since, both from the media and from most of the punters on this website? That would be one Alan Smith, a player who started the season as our fourth-choice striker.
Or do you mean defence? No, of course you don't mean defence. Like BobbyD said, I can't think of another club in the Prem (maybe in Europe?) that can boast 4 international left-backs!
The only thing which might stop us winning the league will be, IMO, an unbelievably relentless run-in from Chavski. We're probably already within a couple of points of the total needed to win the league in 9 out of the last 10 seasons but, just like the Terminator, they Will. Not. Die.
If we do throw it all away, I'll be giving (grudging) credit to the sheer persistence of Moaninho's boys and I'll also look back at our horrendous run of injuries in defence at the business end of the season. A blow that would have crippled most clubs.
But I won't be blaming anything on a lack of strength in depth in our squad.
Lee , Heywood, Heywood (16/04/2007 at 15:33)