Javier Hernandez headed home an 84th-minute winner to send
Manchester United to the brink of a record 19th league title.
The Mexican had come closer than any other United player to
breaking the stubborn resistance of an Everton side who could have
had a couple of penalties and for whom goalkeeper Tim Howard was
outstanding.
But additional heroic performances from Phil Jagielka and
Sylvain Distin counted for nothing as Hernandez rose to meet
Antonio Valencia's defelcted cross.
The striker powered in his 19th goal of a sensational debut
campaign to send United into the Champions League semi-final with
Schalke in winning mood and knowing if they can avoid defeat to
Arsenal and Chelsea in their next two league games, they will
surely knock Liverpool off the perch they have occupied for so
long.
Faced with a familiar selection poser, knowing the following
four games, starting with the first leg of that Champions League
semi-final against Schalke in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday, would shape
his side's season, Sir Alex Ferguson came up with a typical mixture
of solid and experimental.
Jonny Evans was fortunate referee Peter Walton did not view his
tackle on Jermaine Beckford as a foul midway through the opening
period and Darron Gibson's long-range shooting was way off
beam.
However, back in the dug-out after completing his five-match
touchline ban, Ferguson could be reasonably pleased with his side's
first-half efforts, save for the fact they did not actually
score.
The time when picking Hernandez was viewed as a gamble has long
since passed and predictably, the fast-moving Mexican was the
hosts' biggest threat.
In Howard though, Hernandez was faced with a goalkeeper who has
special reason to do well at this venue given he enjoyed three
seasons with the Red Devils until joining the Goodison Park outfit,
initially on loan, in 2006.
Ferguson's concern about the American had more to do with his
concentration levels than any problems with ability. And Howard
proved his worth after 25 minutes when Hernandez was sent sprinting
through by Anderson's slide-rule pass and let fly from an acute
angle. Howard plunged to his right to make an excellent save by his
near post.
The American's next effort was even better as he beat away
another Hernandez effort after the striker had been set up by
Valencia and Wayne Rooney.
Hernandez then did Howard's job for him eight minutes from
half-time. Valencia's superior strength allowed him to shove
Leighton Baines off the ball and roll a pass back to Nani, who had
already wasted one early opportunity by taking too long to decide
what to do. This time, Nani went for goal straight away. He would
surely have found it too had the ball not struck Hernandez, who had
slipped as he made his way in the penalty area, and deflected
harmlessly away.
There could barely be any discussion about who was on top.
Everton manager David Moyes could take pride in his team's battling
qualities, which were exemplified by the stoic defending of
Jagielka and Distin, who managed to get in the way of an Hernandez
cross that was about to give Fabio a tap-in.
Moyes had even more reason to admire the manner his side started
the second period as United failed to rouse themselves. The
introduction of Tim Cahill helped and how Rio Ferdinand got away
with shoving second substitute Victor Anichebe over when the
Everton man had outpaced him in a race towards the United goal was
difficult to fathom.
Everton's luck was also out midway through the half when Jack
Rodwell let fly from the edge of the area with a shot that took a
deflection off Evans and was heading for the bottom corner until
Edwin van der Sar got the slightest touch.
The fluidity had disappeared from United's play, so they dug
into their reserves of self-belief.
Distin turned a Fabio cross onto his own post before the
introduction of Ryan Giggs, then Anderson got no power at all into
a 10-yard shot after being offered a decent sight of goal.
The hosts' momentum gathered pace. Rooney's free-kick tipped
over by Howard. Valencia's thunderbolt cannoning into Jagielka.
Another brilliant Howard save to deny Hernandez.
Could Everton hold out when so many others had failed? Hernandez
ensured the answer was rather predictable.
