Match Report: Everton 0 Manchester United 1

United the defending champions came with a 3 pointer away from home as they returned home with a 1 goal win. The Mexican tapped in 19 minutes for the visitors from the low cross from Evra.

The Red Devil's boss came with five changes to the team that lost to City last Sunday. With Wayne Rooney drawn alongside Cleverley and Darren Fletcher, and Jonny Evans returning after serving a suspension at Aldershot.

In a breathless opening, the home side were the first to engage opponents Goalie, David De Gea within the first 18 seconds and Tim Howard got a chance at the other end when Ji-sung Park tried to convert a Danny Welbeck cross inside two minutes.

United took a firm grip on proceedings and some sustained pressure led to a well-worked opener. Cleverley and Welbeck assembled ball wide to Evra before the full-back's low cross was tapped in by Hernandez with his left foot in the 19th minute.

De Gea saved from Osman after Fellaini beat Evans in the air. Jack Rodwell fired wide when afforded far too much space after Evra conceded possession cheaply. The hosts were unlucky not to draw level with 40 minutes gone as Fletcher's foul allowed Leighton Baines to curl a free-kick over the wall and past the stationary De Gea but against the bar.

Everton ended the half on the front feet as Louis Saha twice worked De Gea. After introducing young Ross Barkley at the break, home side continued keeping the visitors on pressure but De Gea blocked a Rodwell drive after Evans gifted the ball to Coleman on the right.

The Reds dealt a blow when the bright Cleverley was forced off injured and continued to make heavy weather of a tough assignement. Cleverly return from the injury today ended with a injury and is expected to be out for 2 weeks. 

Welbeck finally brought Howard into action when the striker's shot from Hernandez's intelligent pass with the team's only real goal attempt of the second period. But, after making all three subsitutions, United struggled to find any rhythm and Everton built up another head of steam. Saha dragged wastefully wide when Coleman was better placed and was then blocked during a real goalmouth scramble.Despite their weary legs, the hosts ensured it was a nervous finale for everybody of a Red persuasion. Coleman managed a couple of efforts through to De Gea but the Spain Under-21 keeper was rarely over-extended, in truth.

Six minutes of injury time were agonising for the away fans and Evra escaped when Magaye Guaye went down under his challenge inside the box with Mark Halsey making the right call and waving away the desperate penalty appeals. It wasn't pretty but it's three away wins in the league already this term after only five were secured during the title-winning campaign last term.

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