Everton 0 - 1 Man utd

Everton 0 - 1 Man utd





Hernandez scored his fourth goal of the season to give Manchester United victory


Manchester United bounced back from last Sunday's 6-1 defeat by Manchester City as Javier Hernandez's goal gave them a hard-earned victory at Everton.


Hernandez was well-placed just two yards out to side-foot in Patrice Evra's cross in the 19th minute.


The goal was reward for a bright start from United, but they were matched by Everton for the remainder of the game.


However, Leighton Baines struck the crossbar with a free-kick and Louis Saha's shooting lacked precision.


A point would have been just reward for the efforts of David Moyes' side, but having failed to earn that they can take a lot of heart from a spirited display against an opponent with a clear point to prove following a week of largely negative headlines.


For United, victory was all-important, with performance second, following their home humbling at the hands of their fierce rivals last weekend. They achieved the former, with only brief but impressive flashes of the latter.


Much debate was been held this week over what United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's reaction would be to last Sunday's defeat as regards team selection.


This included dropping defender Rio Ferdinand and winger Nani, retaining Jonny Evans, despite his red card against City, and restoring Nemanja Vidic and Tom Cleverley to what was an attacking line-up, featuring Hernandez, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney, whose every touch was greeted by the now standard jeers from the Everton support.





United capped their impressive start by taking the lead after 19 minutes, when Evra's pin-point cross from the left gave Hernandez little option but to side-foot home from two yards out.





This initially paid dividends as United made positive and fluent early forays into Everton territory, one of which teed up Park Ji-sung, whose six-yard shot was saved by Tim Howard.


However, instead of kicking on, United shrank somewhat and Everton grew as a force in the game.


David De Gea was forced to save a Leon Osman snapshot and Jack Rodwell fired wide from 25 yards before Leighton Baines struck the crossbar with a free-kick from the edge of the area as the home side pressed hard for an equaliser.


Hernandez could have made the second half easier for his side had he finished a well-constructed move with his shot from the edge of the box, but Howard's save set up a tense second 45 minutes.


United's growing nervousness in defense was clear to see as Louis Saha twice tested De Gea with shots from the edge of the area.


The visitors then almost gifted Everton an equaliser when Evans gifted possession to the home side. Fotunately for the defender Rodwell's shot from an angle flew just past the far post.


With half an hour to go, Welbeck could have decisively affected the game but his shot from close range, on an angle, was palmed over by Howard.


This left United needing to be resolute and composed in the final minutes of the match in the face of pressure from the home side and, barring a home penalty appeal for a coming together between substitute Magaye Gueye and Patrice Evra, they demonstrated such qualities with aplomb.