From Soccernet:
Everton 0-1 Man Utd
PA
Nemanja Vidic nodded home a priceless winner seven minutes from
time at Everton to complete a third successive single-goal triumph
for Premier League champions Manchester United.
Mikael Silvestre receives treatment on what looked a seriously
injured knee.The Serbian's effort, a near-post header from Nani's
corner, enabled United to record a 13th win in 16 visits to
Goodison Park and also keep pace with their major rivals.
Taken in isolation, a victory at one of the Premier League's most
progressive outfits is a cause for celebration. But Sir Alex
Ferguson knows his side's recent winning run is masking a few
deficiencies in front of goal.
In six outings this season, United have still to score more than
once, even though Ferguson has added Carlos Tevez, Nani and
Anderson to the top flight's most prolific attacking force last
term.
And, with the Red Devils due to begin their Champions League
campaign in Lisbon on Wednesday and Chelsea due at Old Trafford
next weekend, he needs to find a cutting edge fast.
Having threatened to unleash Wayne Rooney on his old club, Ferguson
did not even have the young striker on his bench, presumably
deciding the risk to the foot fractured on the opening weekend of
the new campaign was too great.
Still, even with Owen Hargreaves missing as well, it was something
of a surprise to see Patrice Evra lining up on the left wing, as
both Nani and Louis Saha - United's matchwinner against Sunderland
a fortnight ago - were on the bench.
The experiment did not last a half, as Evra was quickly shoved back
into the visitors' defence when Mikael Silvestre went down in agony
as his knee buckled attempting to block Mikel Arteta's run
forward.
Yet Evra had already shown his offensive talents, his raw pace
possibly causing Everton more problems than Cristiano Ronaldo, who
was well shackled by Leighton Baines on his return from a
three-match ban.
Carlos Tevez dropped deep as often as he could, releasing Evra with
one magnificent pass inside Tony Hibbert, only for the Frenchman to
fire into the side-netting.
Although United gradually assumed dominance in a swift-moving
encounter, David Moyes' men succeeded in restricting them to a
series of long-range efforts, with Michael Carrick among those to
try his luck.
Vidic lost his balance at just the wrong time when Ryan Giggs
dropped a corner into his path and the Serbian was already slipping
to the floor when he skidded a shot wide.
Everton could be pleased with their defensive efforts though, and
while Andrew Johnson and Ayegbeni Yakubu lacked support at times,
they were quite dangerous at the other end too.
Indeed, had Yakubu not been hauled back by referee Alan Wiley for a
debatable push on Wes Brown, the Nigerian would have been clean
through.
Wiley had a difficult day. If he was not annoying the home fans by
handing United dubious free-kicks, he was upsetting Paul Scholes by
appearing to take more notice of the crowd than his own eyes when
penalising the former England man for handball.
Scholes took exception to the decision and punched the ball away in
frustration. Wiley immediately produced a yellow card and within
seconds was being implored to brandish a red as Scholes wiped out
Arteta near the United box.
Instead, the official called Scholes out to administer a final
warning.
If the opening period had been short on goalmouth action, an
expectant crowd did not have to wait long for a genuine chance in
the second as Johnson rose to guide Arteta's corner towards the far
post, only for Scholes to volley off the line.
Scholes was certainly in the thick of things and, when Tevez
combined brilliantly with Giggs to set the midfielder up with a
potential goal of the season, the midfielder could only thrash his
volley over.
Tevez actually came closer with a long-range effort on the hour,
the failure of which heralded the introduction of Saha for
Giggs.
The move did stretch Everton's defence more than it had been
previously, but they continued to hold Ferguson's team at bay,
United's frustrations only increased by a yellow card issued to
Ronaldo for a dive inside the area under pressure from Leon
Osman.
Yet, just as it appeared time was ticking down to yet another blank
day for United, up popped Vidic at the near post to power home
Nani's near-post corner.
Belatedly, Everton threw men forward looking for an equaliser and
Scotland's midweek hero James McFadden had a shot magnificently
saved by Van der Sar before Rio Ferdinand blocked Victor Anichebe's
follow-up.
For a short while, it allowed United to assume a position at the
Premier League summit, but Ferguson needs to find a more potent
blend up front if they are to stand a chance of being there when it
really matters in May.
