MAN UTD 3, EVERTON 1
Marcus Rashford was again the catalyst as Manchester United book their passage to the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup following a hard-earned home win against Everton.
The striker’s rich vein of form continued as he scored for the fifth successive game, the same total as the whole of last season, and the first time he had achieved the feat in his career.
It was Rashford’s 14th goal as he has now found the net in seven successive home games while there was also as assist for Antony’s opener.
Rashford, named player of the match, also put over the cross which Conor Coady put into his own net, but that does not go down as an involvement in the stats.
And Rashford later revealed he believes he is playing the best football of his career, saying: “In terms of performances, it’s probably the best that I’ve been so I feel good on the pitch, I’m getting into positions and areas to score goals. If I keep creating chances, I feel like I’ll keep scoring.”
Embed from Getty ImagesManager Erik ten Hag praised Rashford, saying: “Marcus showed belief and has good momentum. He took on players and threatened the Everton defence for 90 minutes. He was unstoppable with his speed and dribbles.
“As a striker, you are measured by goals and assists, and he got one goal and two assists. He has great skills and has mental stability to keep going.
“He is in the right environment and culture and, when he keeps his focus, hopefully he can continue. The most important thing is Marcus himself.”
United clearly edged the contest – they had 17 goal attempts to Everton’s eight – but it was hard fought as the Toffees, who are in the Premier League’s relegation places, gave a display which belied their lowly league standing.
And Everton’s under-fire manager Frank Lampard identified Rashford as the difference between the teams.
Lampard, whose side has won only once in 12 competitive games, would not be drawn on his own position saying fortunes can change quickly in football.
He praised the work ethic and togetherness of his players which he admitted ought to have been questioned following the 4-1 home defeat to Brighton.
Lampard described it as a performance every manager wanted, pointing out his only focus was the next league game at home to bottom-club Southampton.
And while the 9,000 Everton fans chanted to sack the board, Lampard and the players were applauded at the end for their wholehearted display.
“When the players perform with the spirit of an Everton player, the fans will react to that. Even in defeat and that says a lot,” explained Rashford.
Ten Hag changed four of the side that beat Bournemouth 3-0 earlier this week, with three alterations in defence.
Tyrell Malacia, Raphael Varane and Diogo Dalot were recalled as Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka dropped to the substitutes’ bench.
Donny van de Beek suffered a knee injury against the Cherries and was replaced by Antony.
Lampard made four changes to the Everton side that lost 4-1 at home to Brighton three days earlier as Seamus Coleman, Ben Godfrey, Amadou Onana and Neal Maupay came in for Nathan Patterson, Tom Davies, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dwight McNeil.
Everton, needing a solid start to lift spirits, got off to the worst possible one as they fell behind in the fourth minute after a swift forward move.
Anthony Martial sprayed a pass to Rashford who burst down the left before his low cross was converted by Antony, sliding in at the far post.
It was the Brazilian’s fourth goal since his August move from Dutch side Ajax, but first since October 9.
And it almost got even worse soon after when Martial sent a shot flashing past the upright from the edge of the box.
Everton eventually settled as Demarai Gray saw a drive strike the upright and rebound off De Gea for a corner.
United did not heed the warning as the Toffees equalised in the 14th minute after a clanger from De Gea who allowed Maupay’s low cross to pass through his legs leaving Coady with a tap-in from almost on the goalline for his second goal of the season.
The Reds had great chances to restore their lead but Martial was denied by an important block by Pickford who also pushed away a 30-yard drive from Rashford. Christian Eriksen then curled an effort inches over the crossbar.
Everton lost Alex Iwobi early in the second period after he fell awkwardly and damaged his ankle after a challenge by Malacia.
United regained the lead within seven minutes of the restart when Coady suffered a contrast to the joy of the opening half as he found his own net.
Rashford broke down the left and cut in to the by-line past Coleman before cutting the ball back towards Martial only for Coady, trying in intervene first, put the ball past Pickford.
The England goalkeeper has to be at his best to turn over a 30-yard effort from Fernandes as United sought a third goal to kill off the game.
United made their first changes with 20 minutes left as Casemiro and Martial were replaced by Fred and Alejandro Garnacho.
Everton thought they had made it 2-2 when Calvert-Lewin, who had only been on the field four minutes, chested in a cross from Gray who had strayed offside after deliberations from VAR.
United made a third change when Malacia, who had been caught out several times, was replaced by Lisandro Martinez, his first appearance since helping Argentina lift the World Cup.
They were soon followed by the final two as Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay replaced Eriksen and Antony.
Pickford was called into action again in the last minute acrobatically turning over a free kick from Rashford.
United finally got the clinching third goal with almost the last kick of six minutes of added time when Garnacho was brought down by Ben Godfrey and Rashford sent Pickford the wrong way from the spot.