Man Utd 3, Everton 0: Same old story – with sympathy from the Devils in short supply

Nov 23 2009 Liverpool Daily Post

The opening exchanges were low key as the pattern for the game was set with United dominating possession, albeit in front of the packed Everton defence.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard was forced to be alert to stop a Ryan Giggs effort and a dangerous cross from Rafael Da Silva but United were finding Everton difficult to break down – even the ability of pantomime villain Wayne Rooney was helpless to crack the Everton code.

Unsurprisingly then, with limited success trying to carve open the visitors’ defence, Manchester United found the opener from distance as Darren Fletcher met Antonio Valencia’s neat knock back with a volley of technical brilliance and style.

In a first of half of minimal joy for Everton, one bright moment came with the booking of Fellaini for a foul on goalscorer Fletcher.

The Belgian international will now be available for the Merseyside derby in six days time, sitting out Wednesday night’s trip to Hull City through suspension instead.

Everton started the second half with more purpose after the introduction of a second striker and for the first time in the game had the hosts on the back foot with Van der Sar busy.

Although a rather pointless query to Moyes in the post match press conference of whether, with the luxury of hindsight, he would have started with two strikers, the question being asked by most Evertonians was not about an earlier introduction of Yakubu, but why his team-mates could not have produced similar composure on the ball in the opening period?

A pointless exercise in thinking ‘what if?’ it may have been, but Everton equally cannot dwell on those not present but instead must look forward to with what is at their disposal when they travel to Hull City on Wednesday evening.

Indeed there was certainly no coming back when Michael Carrick swept in United’s second in the 67th minute from Giggs’ precise pass and as the final scoreline would tell everything about how United had comfortably dominated, it did little justice to Everton’s spirited display. Yet there is no room for sentiment at Old Trafford.

The third goal, 10 minutes later, from the boot of Valencia via a deflection off Leighton Baines, only served to rubber stamp the result and gave the home side their 72nd goal against Everton in 35 Premier League meetings.