WHILE MOST EYES at Goodison Park last night focused upon The Netherlands’ Robin van Persie, it is Belgium’s Marouane Fellaini who commands headlines this morning after he gave Everton a 1-0 win to kick-start the Toffees season.
Van Persie came off the bench for the last 22 minutes as United searched for an equaliser after the Belgian midfielder headed Everton into a second half lead, but the £24 million forward was unable to make an immediate impact.
“It was a great result. It’s not very often you beat Manchester United, so we will enjoy it,” Everton boss David Moyes said.
“There was a lot of attention on United before the game, but I think a lot of people forgot that Everton are a good team as well.
“We had some really good chances and their goalkeeper made some good saves. Fellaini was excellent, we know he is capable of that. He caused them some problems.”
United goalkeeper David de Gea endured some difficult moments last season, but the young Spaniard made a series of superb saves to deny Steven Pienaar, Leighton Baines and Leon Osman in the first half.
Moyes’s side also hit the woodwork through Fellaini and Osman, but Everton’s pressure finally paid off in the 57th minute.
With Rio Ferdinand ruled out with a groin injury suffered at the weekend and fellow defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling already sidelined, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was forced to play midfielder Michael Carrick out of position in central defence.
And Fellaini took full advantage of Carrick’s lack of aerial power as he rose above the United star to thump a close-range header past de Gea from Darron Gibson’s corner.
Ferguson’s team were denied an equaliser when Phil Jagielka cleared Tom Cleverley’s shot off the line and, although van Persie replaced Danny Welbeck in the 68th minute, there was no way back for United.
Well done to Everton, One win dosent make a season, hope ye give the rest of the top teams as much trouble as ye gave Man U, this often isn’t the case!!!
The other team were at a picnic. They even brought their blankets