EVERTON 1, MANCHESTER UNITED 1
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores first half goal with a chip after Maarten Stekelenburg races off his line
- Ander Herrera hits the woodwork as United try to extend their lead
- Marouane Fellaini comes on to shore up the defence as Everton go long
- Fellaini fouls Idrissa Gueye, and Leighton Baines’ penalty ensure Everton salvage a draw
- United now 15 points behind Chelsea after 14 games
Leighton Baines’ 89th minute penalty denied victory to Manchester United at Everton after ex-Blues midfielder Marouane Fellaini conceded a late penalty shortly after coming on.
United had led through a Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal but the Reds were under pressure from a late Everton surge.
Fellaini, making his 100th appearance for United, had come on after 85 minutes but almost his first action in the game saw him foul Idrissa Gueye in the 89th minute.
It was the seventh point dropped by United because of goals conceded in the last 10 minutes of Premier League games this season after a late defeat at Watford and equalisers for Stoke and Arsenal at home.
The draw, the Reds’ sixth in the league in 14 games, meant that United remain in sixth place, nine points behind Manchester City in 4th, and have only won one Premier League game in their last eight outings.
United boss Jose Mourinho, perhaps conscious of his recent punishment for discussing referees, declared he had “no thoughts” on the penalty decision despite obviously fuming over the costly decision.
Mourinho also defended the reason for using Fellaini from the bench to counter Everton’s late push for a goal, explaining:
“Everton is not a passing team any more. They play direct. Everything is direct.
“When you have on the bench a player with two metres in height you play him ahead of the defensive line to help the team.
“We were the best team on the pitch by far and the results don’t reflect the performance. We had chances for 2-0.”
He added that there was nothing more he could do to improve the team who were playing “extremely well”.
United were missing the suspended Wayne Rooney and the injured Luke Shaw for this game
Zlatan Ibrahimovic put the Reds in front after 42 minutes after he chipped Maarten Stekelenburg after the Everton keeper had a rush of blood and raced off his line.
The ball’s backspin took it into the back of the net after hitting the bar and the post in what was otherwise a fairly sterile first half.
Kevin Mirallas had a shot saved by Everton who increasingly came into the game to test David De Gea in the United goal.
Ander Herrera almost doubled United’s advantage but hit the woodwork from six yards out but it was Everton who asked more questions of the United defence with De Gea keeping out efforts by Idrissa Gueye and Enner Valencia.
Gueye, who was the recipient of a nasty lunge by Marcos Rojo during the game, was one of Everton’s battling performers as the home side pushed hard for the equaliser.
With time ticking away, Reds boss Jose Mourinho opted to park the bus but Fellaini’s clumsy challenge on Gueye in the area handed Everton a deserved lifeline and Baines made no mistake from the penalty spot.
The left back could have sealed all three points in injury time as Everton continued to ask questions of the United defence but he was denied by De Gea.