Premier League: Everton v Manchester United full-time report

Marouane Fellaini

Everton 1 Manchester United 0

A towering display from Marouane Fellaini helped Everton to a deserved victory as Robin van Persie’s Manchester United debut ended in defeat at Goodison Park.

Fellaini – who tormented the United defence all night – rose to head home a Darron Gibson corner shortly before the hour mark, giving Everton the lead after the Belgian and Leon Osman had earlier hit the woodwork.

Tom Cleverley saw his shot cleared off the line by Phil Jagielka in the second half, and despite the appearance of substitute Van Persie for the final 22 minutes Everton deservedly held on.

A crazy 4-4 draw between these two teams at Old Trafford towards the end of last season was one of the bigger nails in United title challenge coffin, and a similarly goal-filled game looked possible when Sir Alex Ferguson named an attack-minded visiting XI which included Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia in defence.

Yet it was Everton who looked the more threatening going forward in the opening moments, and Fellaini did well to shrug off United’s two makeshift defenders before overrunning the ball and eventually striking the outside of the post from the tightest of angles.

Nani fired a shot wide at the other end, but it was still the Blues who looked on top in a terrific Goodison Park atmosphere, and David de Gea was required to tip over a looping Steven Pienaar header. Moments later, Fellaini fired wide.

The watching Van Persie had failed to see much attacking intent from his new side – including their one starting debutant, Shinji Kagawa – but a foul on Paul Scholes did give Wayne Rooney his first glimpse at goal. The former Everton forward struck his free-kick well, but ex-United goalkeeper Tim Howard made a comfortable save.

There wasn’t too much comfort for De Gea at the other end though, and after the Spaniard had been on the receiving end of a bump from the lively Fellaini, he did well to get down low to an effort from Pienaar. Moments later, a sharp turn and shot from Osman was again kept out by the United goalkeeper.

There was still time for De Gea to save well from a Leighton Baines free-kick, but the goalkeeper wasn’t needed early in the second period when the excellent Fellaini nodded the ball down in the penalty area and Osman smashed his shot from close range against the crossbar.

The sense that Everton had to score during their moments on top was becoming a very real one, and sure enough it wasn’t long before they got the reward that their play had deserved with a goal that was as basic as they come.

Fellaini had seemingly won every header in all areas of the pitch all night, and when Gibson swung over a corner he finally won one where it really counted. The giant Belgian was easily able to get in ahead of Carrick to send a low header past the stranded De Gea. The Gwladys Street erupted.

There will scarcely be a more deserved goal all season – both for team and individual – and it finally stung the previously poor United into action.

Suddenly they were attacking Howard’s goal, and they looked about to equalise when the Everton goalkeeper came off his line to look to thwart Kagawa, only for the Japanese to pick out Cleverley. The midfielder must have thought he’d scored with his low effort, only for Jagielka to clear off the line.

That was the signal for Van Persie to appear for his debut, and the Dutchman was involved when his reverse ball almost got Kagawa in on goal. Ferguson was soon to turn to Ashley Young and Anderson from the bench as he searched for a way back into the game, yet one wasn’t forthcoming.

Jagielka and Sylvain Distin were able to hold firm and lead Everton to victory; one that they and particularly Fellaini will remember.

Mark Jones – follow me on twitter

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