MAN UNITED 2, EVERTON 1
Marquee signings Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao were Manchester United’s goalscorers in a hard-earned victory against Everton at Old Trafford.
It was far from a vintage display by the Reds who just did enough to record their third victory in seven Premier League matches to climb to fourth place in the table.
Di Maria again provided the sparkle and has quickly become an adored figure among the fans while Falcao got off the mark with his first goal for the Reds.
While United were impressive going forward, they were again suspect defensively as they have kept only two clean sheets in the last 10 league matches.
Everton again asked questions of the United back line in which rookie Patrick McNair was handed a second start in the continued absence of Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.
United manager Louis van Gaal admitted his side was indebted David De Gea for the victory for making “three magnificent saves.”
There was a first half penalty stop from Leighton Baines and saves in second half stoppage time from substitutes Leon Osman and Bryan Oviedo which Toffees’ manager Roberto Martinez described as “world class”.
Van Gaal also saluted Di Maria, but believes he can become even better as he explained: “When he provides assists and scores goals, what more can you ask of the player. He does it every week so you have got to be pleased.
“We have to improve a lot of things, including van Gaal and Di Maria too.
“I told my players we are fourth in the table and not playing well. What will happen when we play well for 90 minutes? It needs time.”
United’s manager was again frustrated by the second half fadeout by his team.
He said: “Every time in the first half we play well and create chances, and maybe we could have been 3-0 up at half time.
“In the second half it was so different and we weren’t organised and gave Everton four big chances. Everton wanted to score so that should have given space to our attackers, but we didn’t profit from it.”
Wayne Rooney was ruled out through suspension and Ander Herrera through injury so there were Reds’ recalls for Juan Mata and Antonio Valencia.
Everton were without regular defenders Sylvain Distin and Seamus Coleman along with Kevin Mirallas and James McCarthy.
United made a bright start creating a succession of chances, though Everton keeper was only troubled once when he did well to hold on to a diving header from Falcao.
The breakthrough came in the 27th minute when Di Maria found the net with the sweetest of shots after Mata squared the ball into the path of the Argentinian for his third goal in five appearances.
And Di Maria almost struck again moments later when Howard did well to turn over his deflected free kick.
There was drama in first half stoppage time when Luke Shaw gave away a penalty following a challenge on Tony Hibbert as he burst into the box. And that heightened when Leighton Baines saw his spot kick saved by De Gea. It was only the left back’s second penalty miss in 19 kicks.
Everton equalised 10 minutes after the restart when Naismith headed home a deep cross to the far post by Baines, his fourth goal of the season.
And it almost got worse for United not long after when Phil Jagielka’s header from Baines’ corner was cleared off the line by Falcao as Everton suddenly sensed their faltering opponents were there for the taking.
United regained the lead shortly after the hour mark when Falcao netted his first goal for United as Di Maria’s wayward shot fell invitingly at his feet eight yards from goal as the Colombian fired high into the roof of the net.
In the latter stages, however, there was an unease about United who nervously held on to their lead, substitutes Osman and Oviedo both bringing brilliant saves out of De Gea in stoppage time as they were the more relieved side to hear the final whistle.