Manchester United 3 Everton 0- match report
21 Nov 2009 - 19:44:08
Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick could come to be the poster boys for Manchester United's first season since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo: understated, unglamorous, quietly relentless. Precisely the qualities that Sir Alex Ferguson covets most, then. This dismembering of Everton was laborious in the extreme but the United manager could hardly care less when his two midfield enforcers were the architects of ultimate victory.
Those foregoing an evening in with Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole in favour of this instalment of the Ex-Factor, in which Wayne Rooney was baited terribly by the Everton fans he used to represent, could have been cursing themselves until Fletcher found his range. It is no coincidence that seven of the last nine games United have lost have been without Fletcher in the side and the Scot's third goal of a fine campaign, breaking down a feeble Everton, was arguably his most significant yet.
Related ArticlesPremier League actionPremier League tableTelegraph player raterPremier League fixturesSport on televisionWe knew all about the midfielder's predatory instincts from his two goals in this season's first Manchester derby, but little about the ferocity of his striking. Until now. Fletcher pounced on the loose ball with all the confidence borne of his stellar recent form to unleash an unerring first-time strike into the top corner. Even Ferguson seemed surprised: 'It was a goal you wouldn't expect Darren to score. But it was a quality finish. The level of his performances keeps going up.'
Carrick, who covers more ground less conspicuously than anyone, could not resist chipping in with a crisp second-half finish before Antonio Valencia profited from a deflection for United's third. To think, Ferguson had bemoaned in his programme notes the lack of goals from midfield. 'The second goal put us in the comfort zone and from then on I didn't think that we could possibly lose it,' he said. Even the problem of Valencia, whom many regard as a poor heir to Ronaldo, is fast being resolved: the Ecuadorean managed only seven goals in his entire Wigan career but has already scored four in a red shirt.
This match could have a galvanising effect on United, beyond the immediate result of keeping the gap to Chelsea at the top to five points. It was one that Ferguson recognised, accepting no criticism of his players' less flamboyant style in Ronaldo's absence: 'If we get to the new year around the top of the table, we will have a great chance of winning the league.'
But there was a sinister sub-plot, too. Trouble flared in the away end as more than 50 police officers were required to control a surge by Everton fans in the wake of Fletcher's strike.
The atmosphere had been tense from kick-off as Everton fans targeted Rooney without mercy.
Rooney's every touch had drawn derision and the tipping point came when Fletcher put United ahead after 34 minutes. Several officers who waded in to calm the unrest received rough treatment and the travelling contingent were penned in with a tight police cordon for the remainder of the game.
Patrice Evra had fashioned the move to provoke the incident, making a fine surge down the left, then whipping in a visionary cross that Valencia headed back into the path of Fletcher. The shot was unstoppable, far beyond Tim Howard, although David Moyes could be seen remonstrating with the fourth official at half-time about a perceived foul on Dan Gosling in the build-up.
Moyes had little to complain about, though, so toothless were his team. 'I'm looking for us to be in the form that we were in for most of last season, and we're certainly struggling to find that,' he admitted. Marouane Fellaini, frustrated as the intended foil for Louis Saha, scythed into Fletcher studs first and was booked when the punishment could have been worse.
Carrick was the man to settle United's nerves after Rooney botched a spectacular attempt on goal from a corner. It proved fortunate that the ball ran to Ryan Giggs, who set up Carrick to stroke a shot past Howard. Valencia also capitalised when his effort from the right looped goalwards off Baines to put United out of sight.
