Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester Utd 1 Everton 0: There's only one worry for Fergie
Top of the table, tighter than a credit squeeze at the back, playing the most eye-catching football in the Barclays Premier League - it's difficult to find fault with Manchester Unitedat the moment. But be sure Sir Alex Ferguson will find a way.The Laird of Old Trafford watched scorer Cristiano Ronaldo take another step towards full throttle, Michael Carrick offer Fabio Capello more compelling evidence of his England credentials and Edwin van der Sar & Co create a fresh slice of history. Catch me if you can: Edwin van der Sar makes a save in the 1-0 win over Everton when he kept a 12thconsecutive League clean sheet Madness that leaves Sir Alex in WonderlandManchester United's Vidic misses Inter clash after being handed one-match banMANCHESTER UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB It was what has become almost a regulation victory for his champions, as Everton centrehalf Phil Jagielka explained after United's 12th Premier League result without conceding a goal - a trauma that last occured at the Emirates in November.And yet, there is a reservation tucked away behind Sir Alex's public satisfaction as his team fall short in one key area.The North Bank once lauded their heroes with '1-0 to the Arsenal'. Hard as it is to imagine the Stretford End revelling in '1-0 to the mighty Reds', that is becoming an increasingly familiar scoreline for a team who pride themselves on goals galore.Yes, they ran riot at West Bromwich less than a week ago, but Ferguson had hoped that five-goal haul would whet their appetite to put others to the sword.United's eighth 1-0 League victory of the campaign even came courtesy of a penalty, correctly awarded by Mark Halsey when Mikel Arteta flicked out his heel to send Carrick tumbling as the midfielder shimmied past him just inside the box.Such a margin gives the wrong impression of a United performance that should have been enhanced by more goals. But Tim Howard, back at his former club and in fine fettle, produced a couple of high-class saves to keep Everton alive. Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against EvertonFerguson, who had fully expected Everton to be as tough as any Old Trafford visitor, growled: 'We never put Everton to bed and they were able to keep going as a result of that. They took us to the wire because we didn't take our chances.'Therein lies the reason for that slight furrow in his brow. The League table that confirms his team as leaders by two points also reveals that, with 40 goals from 23 games, they are off the scoring pace that usually marks out a United title season.Last season, thanks largely to Ronaldo's miracle campaign, they scored 80, the season before 83. The prolific 1999-2000 champions fell only three short of a ton. But the 74 that nicked the 2003 title from Arsenal is looking nearer this year's mark.If they should fall short of 80, would that be seen as a flaw? Probably, given the array of attacking talent that Ferguson can field, with comeback kid Wayne Rooney also limbering up to step into the shooting gallery at West Ham on Sunday. Turf wars: United defender Vidic tackles Everton's FellainiWill it be a crucial factor in preventing the trophy from staying at Old Trafford for at least another 12 months? Probably not, as long as Van der Sar keeps up his impression of the barriers that protect the Dutch coast from the North Sea. The veteran former Holland goalkeeper has not let anything past him in the League since Samir Nasri annoyed him in the 48th minute of Arsenal's 2-1 win on November 8 which left United fourth, trailing Chelsea and Liverpool by eight points.On Saturday, his former deputy Howard had all the hard work to do. Until Everton launched their usual late assault, Steady Eddie was often as much a spectator as Chris Woods, the Everton goalkeeping coach whose own record is next.Having passed Steve Death's all-time English record at Reading by going 18 hours and 42 minutes without conceding a League goal, Van der Sar needs one more clean sheet to outdo Woods' 1,196- minute British record set for Rangers. Safe hands: Edwin van der SarEverton manager David Moyes, admitting he was 'drooling' over some of United's play, said: 'You try to find ways of stopping them and attacking but it's near impossible.'Jagielka, one of the League's best defenders this season and likely to be alongside Carrick in Capello's squad for the friendly with Spain, was matched by partner Joleon Lescott as they battled to keep United out.He said: 'All these 1-0 wins are what set United apart. They've been there and done it. There's that expression, winning ugly. I'm not saying they were ugly tonight but they have done what they needed to do.' Madness that leaves Sir Alex in WonderlandManchester United's Vidic misses Inter clash after being handed one-match banMANCHESTER UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB