A look back at the Everton win

Manchester United reclaimed second spot in the Premier League with a comfortable win over Everton at Old Trafford.

United dominated the first half and Darren Fletcher’s superb half volley was the least they deserved as they went into the break.

Everton managed to get into the game more after the break but failed to convert their improved performance into goals as both Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia scored to secure a comfortable win.

United started the game well, and had a half chance in the fifteenth minute when only a last gasp intervention from Leighton Baines stopped Antonio Valencia eight yards from goal.

Patrice Evra then set up Wayne Rooney after cutting inside Lucas Neill, but the former Evertonian only managed to slice his effort wide of the goal, when he perhaps should have done better.

United continued to push forward, creating a number of chances to take the lead. When they did finally break the deadlock though, in the 35th minute, it was definitely worth the wait. Antonio Valencia headed Patrice Evra’s cross back across the edge of the area and Darren Fletcher unleashed an unstoppable curling half-volley into the top corner.

Michael Owen then had the chance to extend United’s lead just before the break, but he couldn’t quite beat Tim Howard from a tight angle.

Knowing that his side needed something special to get back into the game, David Moyes introduced Yakubu at the start of the second half.  It seemed as though it could prove to be the spark that ignited his side’s performance as Everton looked far more threatening in the second period.

Johnny Heitinga managed to find himself some space on the edge of the box, but his shot was well gathered by Edwin Van Der Sar.  Michael Owen then almost doubled United’s lead when he reacted quickest to an attempted clearance by the Everton defence. He rounded Tim Howard, but the angle proved to be too acute and he could only lift the ball onto the roof of the net.

Against the run of play, Everton then managed to get the ball into the back of the net. However, Marouanne Fellaini’s effort was ruled offside when he slotted past Van Der Sar.

Buoyed by this effort, Everton looked to find an unlikely equaliser and had the chance to do so on the hour mark when Yakubu split United’s defence, but Tim Cahill could only get the slightest of touches as Van Der Sar made a good block.  Instead of signalling an Everton fight back, this proved to be the sum of all of their attacking efforts, as United ended the game as a contest with two goals in the final quarter of the game.

First, Michael Carrick produced a characteristically calm finish to slot the ball into the bottom corner after being picked out by Ryan Giggs.

Paul Scholes then made an instant impact coming off the bench. Striding forward into the Everton half, he released Antonio Valencia, whose deflected shot beat Tim Howard and nestled into the bottom corner.

Although Everton had a couple of late chances to stage a highly unlikely comeback, it wasn’t to be, as United confidently recovered from their defeat at Stamford Bridge to remain within touching distance of Chelsea at the top of the table.

By Harry Veal