Everton 0 – 1 Manchester Utd
Despite finally trying to play some attacking football in the second half against Manchester United, Everton were undone on the counter, and no amount of loose rucking on a plethora of corners could get the ball past Senne Lammens in the opposition net.
Everton have nearly everyone fit for the clash but were without Jake O’Brien for this game. The Irish international was sent off against Bournemouth for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Jack Grealish is the only other casualty, recovering from surgery on his season-ending hamstring injury. But Charly Alacarz and Mark Travers were two names missing entirely from the squad tonight.
David Moyes makes three changes as Michael Keane, Tim Iroegbunam and Harrison Armstrong are named in the starting XI in place of Vitalii Mykolenko, Tyrique George and Jake O’Brien.
First Half
The Red Devils kicked off, Barry in quick to charge down the early hoof from Lammens, but it went behind. Dewsbury-Hall was also quick in the press, but there was a sequence of alternate throw-ins.
But Man Utd got forward and somehow failed to score, Vunha and Dalo seeing their shots blocked as Tarkowski got behind Pickford to clear off the line.
Everton countered at pace but Gana’s shot was blocked. It was lively stuff early on, the crowd responding, but Everton’s winning press was not supported by the required possession.
The Blues continued to give Man Utd’s wide players too much space, Dalot firing in across that Pickford had to parry. Tarkowski landed awkwardly after an aerial challenge with Amad, needing treatment.
The disjointed play continued, with Everton the spoilers but lacking continuity, Barry easily spun by Yoro. Iroegbunam won it back but Dewsbury-Hall gave it back. And the pattern continued, with the visitors given more time to settle and build.
Fernandes almost set up a far-post header but Tarkowski was in front of his man to half-clear. Barry showed some naive physicality, barging Yoror in the back. Mainoo then crashed into Barry, giving away a free-kick, but Barry threw himself down and needed treatment.
The free-kick went ahead without Barry and came to nothing, Barry then returning. Everton stalled in possession until Keane tried a clever deep ball for Ndiaye but he double-hit it behind.
Both sides struggled to do much as their defensive low blocks dominated through many a turnover. Everton did get forward but Dewsbury-Hall couldn’t get his final ball through to Ndiaye.
Going the other way, Branthwaite was beaten by Dalot and pulled him back by the shirt, but avoided a yellow card. The free-kick from Fernandes was headed out to Dalot who sent back a rocket, inches wide of Pickford’s post.
Some better play saw some good build-up play from Ndiaye and Iroegbunam but a telegraphed cross from Branthwaite was easily blocked. The midfield passing was a lottery of errors at times, with very little continuity.
Mbuemo looked to have space for a shot but dragged it wide. Everton won a free kick 35 yards out that Garner fired goalwards, Lammens saving comfortably. Ndiaye was fouled again by Shaw, this time wide right. Garner’s delivery was good but it was headed clear.
Some much better football from Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye finally on a corner, Dewsbury-Hall’s delivery punched clear by Lammens. After more exchanges, Man Utd won a free-kick that saw Maguire blocking Branthwaite as the ball came back to Fernandes who shot just over the angle.
The first half had been pretty typical Premier League fayre, low in quality, low in possession, low in goalmouth action, low in excitement… but still a perfect 0-0 scoreline for Manager Moyes.
Second Half
Everton started with a novel drop-kick from Dewsbury-Hall which Ndiaye eventually did well to cross in, Dewsbury-Hall laying it off perfectly for Armstrong but his shot was hopelessly weak when direct power was the minimum requirement.
Everton kept up the forward play but nothing more developed. Still much brighter stuff from The Blues. At the other end, a Mainoo cross was awkwardly intercepted by Tarkowski, Mbuemo trying a power play from a difficult angle beyond the far post.
Ndiaye and Barry worked the ball inside to Dewsbury-Hall but the space he was in instantly vanished, as did any chance ot shoot. A worrying ball over the top found Dalot running in behind as Man Utd suddenly looked a lot more dangerous.
Everton looked to work an opening at the other end but the cross from Dewsbury-Hall was terrible. A funny moment when Mbuemo ran full pace into a stationary Tarkowski shoulder-block! — and he went down as poleaxed.
More ragged stuff from both sides followed ntil a good turnover saw Everton come forward but the shot fell to Gana and was easily blocked. Some better play saw Dewsbury-Hall shoot but it was deflected wide for a corner. Lots of silly pushing and the ball cleared to Gana again, his shot blocked.
United pounce on a loose ball and breakaway through Matheus Cunha who drives forward and looks play in Benjamin Sesko to his left, but he slips at the crucial moment and Everton recover.
Everton won a corner that went to the far post, crossed back by Tarkowski but collected by Lammens. Cunha got across well to block a shot from Garner. Everton showing intent but United countered again through a long clearance from Cunha and this time Mbuemo easily beat Keane to play in Sesko who made no mistake.
Everton won a corner but Lammens collected it easily. Tyrique George, on for Armstrong, made a brilliant forward drive and cross, winning another corner, but this time Lammens could punch it away.
Branthwaite forced yet another corner, it fell to George but he did not react and the chance was gone. But another corner and this one came out to Gana who sliced his shot well wide in customary fashion.
Everton were playing most of the game in United’s half, Branthwaite putting in a good cross but it was Maguire who headed it away. Keane then fired in a rocket that Lammens got his hand to under the bar for another corner. But the loose ruck this time saw Tarkowski throw Yoro into the net for a yellow card.
Finally, Darren England pulled the captains out and spoke to them before the next Everton corner, Lammens punching it put again. Ndiaye then crossed in but too easy for Lammens to gather, with time now running out.
Another Everton attack, Barry winning yet another corner but no clear chance came from it. Then into 5 minutes of added time, it was Man Utd’s turn to win a corner that was kept short to waste time.
Man Utd broke again but this time Pickford thwarted Sesko. George then drove the ball in and fired but Lammens held it. Cunha and Garner were having a good battle. Fernandes was booked for his tackle on Dewsbury-Hall in the build-up.
A Garner cross should have seen another corner but it was not to be and Everton crashed to yet another dismal home defeat.
Everton: Pickford [Y:77′], Garner, Tarkowski [Y:83′], Keane, Branthwaite, Gana, Iroegbunam (79′ Beto), Armstrong (73′ George), Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Barry.
Subs not Used: King, Coleman, Patterson, Mykolenko, Röhl, Dibling, McNeil.
Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire [Y:84′], Yoro, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad (58′ Sesko), Fernandes, Cunha (90+5′ Heaven); Mbeumo (77′ Mazraoui [Y:90+2′]).
Subs not Used: Bayindir, Malacia, Moorhouse, Fletcher, Ugarte, Zirkzee.
Referee: Darren England.