Everton 0-3 Manchester United
by James Nalton
at Goodison Park
EVENTS conspired against Everton once again as a show of defiance from the fans on Sunday afternoon was dampened somewhat by an unlucky 3-0 defeat to Manchester United.
Just over a week after the club was hit with what they feel is an unjust 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules, they somehow managed to lose a game in which their opponents found themselves 2-0 up after an hour having created no big chances of note.
Alejandro Garnacho’s overhead kick to open the scoring will likely win goal of the season, while the second United goal came via a Marcus Rashford penalty.
Anthony Martial finished neatly to add a third. United’s only real chances created in open play came once Everton were chasing the game.
Everton fans made their feelings on the points deduction clear before and during the game, marching to the ground en masse and holding up signs branding the Premier League “corrupt”.
It seemed like all of the Everton fans heading to Goodison Park were on the march—a neverending procession from County Road to the ground via Spellow Lane.
Once inside there was still plenty to shout about, but little of the football went in their favour.
The frustration with authority was summed up when United midfielder Scott McTominay committed a second prominent foul in a short space of time. Everton were incensed he wasn’t shown a yellow card.
Ashley Young had already been booked for a mistimed lunge on Garnacho, and the home contingent felt McTominay deserved punishment the same for his collection of fouls.
To make things worse, Abdoulaye Doucoure was himself booked for his part in the protests.
Everton had the far better chances in the first half and were the better team during that period.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was a menace to the United defence and was unlucky to see a powerful header land straight in the arms of Onana.
Another of his shots was saved well by the United keeper before McNeil’s follow-up was cleared off the line by Kobbie Mainoo.
Doucoure knocked a good chance just wide, and Calvert-Lewin headed over. All this time United weren’t creating anything at the other end.
Everton were very much in the game until Young fouled Martial in the area.
Referee John Brooks originally booked the Frenchman for a dive before going to the screen to review and reverse his decision, and point to the spot. Rashford converted the penalty emphatically.
The pick-me-up Everton needed following a bad week—a result to give them hope they can get out of this mess sooner rather than later—didn’t come. But there was a performance underneath the poor result to offer encouragement.
There were no boos at the end of the game, save a few for the referee, just a rendition of “Everton we love you” from the pockets of home fans remaining in Goodison Park.
There was defiance rather than defeatism, and this is the kind of mindset manager Sean Dyche will be encouraging among his players as they look to claw back the points they've had taken away.
