The Toffees took the lead from the penalty spot through Leighton Baines, a transfer target for the Red Devils last summer, after Phil Jones's clear handball blocked a Romelu Lukaku shot. The result keeps Everton a point behind Arsenal in the race for fourth, while United remain seventh, six points adrift of sixth-placed Tottenham.
Steven Naismith, recalled to the side along with James McCarthy, ought to have given Everton the lead in the 22nd minute. Lukaku's knockdown found the Scotland international all alone inside the area but he blazed wildly over the crossbar from just inside the area. Kevin Mirallas doubled their advantage shortly before half-time, slotting home on the counter after being played in by a fantastic delivery from Seamus Coleman, and United could summon no serious effort to get back into the game. That miss was rendered irrelevant six minutes later, though, as Baines put the hosts in front from the penalty spot. Jones, having lost his footing, stuck out an arm to block Lukaku's shot and, after referee Mark Clattenburg awarded the spot-kick, the full-back sent his effort straight down the middle.
Everton doubled their lead two minutes before the break, Mirallas finishing from a tight angle after being slipped in by Coleman. The win, which secured the Toffees' first league double over United for 44 years, provided a welcome tonic for Martinez and his side after the disappointment of Wednesday's surprise 3-2 defeat to Crystal Palace, while the result leaves Moyes with plenty to ponder.
No comments:
Post a Comment