Our Scottish international midfielder was captain for the first 45 minutes and played a skipper’s role with a headed goal in only the fifth minute of the tie on a bitterly cold night at Old Trafford.
It proved enough to see off a spirited Hornets side who were managed by their new boss Xisco Munoz for only the third time since his appointment just before Christmas.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made nine changes from the XI he fielded against Manchester City in last Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final. And after a blistering opening, inspired by McTominay, the third-round clash became somewhat subdued.