Manchester United were looking for their third consecutive Premier League games for the first time since winning their first six under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back last January. However it was not to be. Although United could have gone ahead within the first 20 seconds, Everton frustrated them, and played a defensive game, with eleven players behind the ball, and hitting on the counter attack. The visitors went in at half time a goal up thanks to a most unfortunate own goal from Lindelof.
Everton had beaten United just once at Old Trafford in the previous 26 games and young Mason Greenwood made sure it is now an unbeaten 27 games, thus also rescuing a point for United. Chelsea’s defeat against Bournemouth yesterday meant that a victory for United would have seen them move within two points of fourth spot going into the busy Christmas fixture period. Spurs have now leapfrogged United into 5th place with a win at Wolves.
My United Man of the Match award goes to Fred who was ever present in midfield throughout the game and kept trying to set up United’s attacks. Seems to be United’s main corner taker, although, as in recent games, United have not been able to score from this set piece.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s now approaches his first year as manager at Old Trafford. Back in April, it was a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Goodison Park that provided definitive evidence that United needed a radical overhaul in attitude and personnel. With Paul Pogba set to start full training next week along with Eric Bailly and Timothy Fosu-Mensah, United fans can only hope that things will now continue to improve.
Finally, and interesting statistic is that today’s match was the 4,000th consecutive game United have featured a home-grown player – the run started with Thomas Manley and Jackie Wassall in 1937.
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