Jacketless on the touchline in the pouring rain, Duncan Ferguson looked for all the world as though he would like to be out there. Had he been, he would have enjoyed himself.
For this is a Manchester United team that still offers opportunity to those brave enough to go looking for it. Despite fine recent performances and victories against Tottenham and Manchester City, United still have a soft centre. They can be got at, home and away.
So, yes, Ferguson would have loved this one. It was a day for a smash and grab and an Everton team re-energised by Ferguson’s up and at ’em style of management were only 15 minutes or so from pulling one off.
Everton were gifted the lead 10 minutes before half-time when Victor Lindelof (left) inadvertently directed the ball into the net
Everton players celebrate going 1-0 up at Old Trafford, after De Gea punched the ball into the path of Lindelof at the back post
Despite the cold and rain at Old Trafford, Duncan Ferguson was quick to whip off his jacket – and soon had a goal to celebrate
Mason Greenwood – a second-half substitute for United – fires the ball home to equalise late on in the match at Old Trafford
Greenwood runs back to the halfway line with his team-mates after levelling things up for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s me
United were not particularly bad here. Not at all. They deserved the draw earned in the end by a waft of young Mason Greenwood’s left foot.
It’s just that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team were not particularly good either. And it is this combination of middle of the road unpredictability and vulnerability that sees United sitting in sixth and just as likely to slide backwards in the coming weeks as they are to make strides forwards.
This really should have been a day to put down a marker. With Spurs and City dealt with over the previous 12 days, a performance of conviction would have taken United to the shoulder of stuttering Chelsea and a couple of points clear of Chris Wilder’s upstarts from Sheffield United.
Instead United remain outside the top five and vulnerable to the ambition of upwardly mobile clubs like Wolves clustered just behind them.
Solskjaer insists his team are getting better but if they are it is by the smallest increments. After 17 Premier League games, United have won six times. That’s the same number as Crystal Palace, Newcastle and Burnley. So greater improvement must come and it must come soon.
Here United were just too slow to get going and it’s a recurring theme. Solskjaer’s players too often seem to require an adrenaline shot to find any rhythm or momentum. On this occasion, it was provided by the shock of falling behind.
Bright enough early on, United could have led. Jesse Lingard was wide as he shot on the turn after only 15 seconds and then Marcus Rashford and Daniel James were unable to find the target after being played clear down the left and right respectively.
After that, however, they became meek and uncertain and both are now recognisable traits. Having had success by adopting a physical approach against the Chelsea central defenders last weekend, young Dominic Calvert-Lewin tried it again here and must have been surprised at how easily Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof succumbed.
Ferguson was taking interim charge of Everton for the second time, following the victory against Chelsea last week
There was a feisty edge to the game within minutes and Tom Davies (right) was handed an early booking for this tackle
De Gea (fourth right) tried to punch the ball away from danger, but he could only divert it onto the leg of Lindelof (far left)
The Swedish defender could only watch on as the ball cannoned off his leg and over the line to gift Everton the advantage
Season at a glance
Calvert-Lewin had already started to trouble the United central defensive partnership long before Everton scored a strange goal 10 minutes before half-time.
Leighton Baines – on as a substitute for Lucas Digne – delivered the ball to the far post and when David de Gea failed to gather under pressure from Calvert-Lewin and Yerry Mina, it dropped in front of a startled Lindelof, struck his shin and bounced in to the goal.
It was a shambolic goal to concede. A VAR check showed that Calvert-Lewin had jumped with an arm across De Gea’s face and the goal could easily have been ruled out.
Conversely, De Gea’s jump had been so weak – turning his face away from the ball – that it was feasible he would not have gathered it anyway. So the goal was allowed to stand and that felt right.
Another United problem at this stage was that their midfield pair of Fred and Scott McTominay were not winning the central battle against Mason Holgate and Tom Davies. This in turn was allowing Everton to spread the play and attack United down either side.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford delights in watching his team secure the lead over Manchester United before half-time
Richarlison (centre) is muscled out by the challenge of two United players in Harry Maguire (left) and Scott McTominay (right)
Jesse Lingard tries a shot at the Everton goal, but United struggled to make a breakthrough in front of a partisan home crowd
It was a day of frustration for Manchester United until their goal. Pictured are striker Marcus Rashford (left) and Lingard (right)
Had that continued, Everton would have won. As it was, McTominay improved to such an extent that he went on to be the game’s best player and this was one of the reasons the direction of travel changed in the second half.
United were much better as time wore on. Their strength is the pace and directness of their young forwards and the more Marcus Rashford and Daniel James saw of the ball the more dangerous United looked.
Clear chances were hard to come by and Everton’s Jordan Pickford dealt with most things comfortably. A shot from Luke Shaw and two from James all arrived from range.
Richarlison (right) jumps for a header with Man United’s Swedish defender Lindelof during a wet afternoon at Old Trafford
Ferguson watches on from the dugouts at Old Trafford during his second match in caretaker charge of his beloved Everton
Rashford lines up a shot, while Everton pair Michael Keane (left) and Seamus Coleman prepare to try and block the effort
But Pickford could not deal with Greenwood’s equaliser in the 77th minute. Struck low through defenders’ legs from 18 yards, it was too close to the post.
However the expected late onslaught did not come. At full-time Ferguson – soaked to the skin – raised his arms to the away end.
This place never scared him back in the day. Why on earth would it now?
Luke Shaw tries to manoeuvre his way through two Everton bodies as United battle their way back into the contest
The goal eventually came in the 77th minute at Old Trafford when Greenwood fired through bodies and past Pickford
Greenwood wheels away in celebration after saving his side, while Richarlison (right) watches on with his hands on his head
Substitute Moise Kean trudges past Ferguson and straight down the tunnel after being hooked 18 minutes into his afternoon
Caretaker boss Ferguson looked delighted at full-time as he celebrated in front of the travelling Toffees supporters
Jacketless on the touchline in the pouring rain, Duncan Ferguson looked for all the world as though he would like to be out there. Had he been, he would have enjoyed himself.
For this is a Manchester United team that still offers opportunity to those brave enough to go looking for it. Despite fine recent performances and victories against Tottenham and Manchester City, United still have a soft centre. They can be got at, home and away.
So, yes, Ferguson would have loved this one. It was a day for a smash and grab and an Everton team re-energised by Ferguson’s up and at ’em style of management were only 15 minutes or so from pulling one off.
Everton were gifted the lead 10 minutes before half-time when Victor Lindelof (left) inadvertently directed the ball into the net
Everton players celebrate going 1-0 up at Old Trafford, after De Gea punched the ball into the path of Lindelof at the back post
Despite the cold and rain at Old Trafford, Duncan Ferguson was quick to whip off his jacket – and soon had a goal to celebrate
https://youtu.be/NsR5VZonMP0
