MAN UNITED 1, EVERTON 1
Manchester United viewed it as a missed opportunity to put pressure on the teams above them in the Premier League as they were held at home by Everton.
A win would have lifted the Reds to fifth place and only two points behind Chelsea, occupants of the last Champions League place.
United, who fell behind in the first half to an unlucky Victor Lindelof own goal as they extended their run to 11 Premier League games without a clean sheet, an unwanted club record.
They had to rely on an equaliser from substitute Mason Greenwood to extend their unbeaten league run to six games.
It was the 18-year-old’s seventh goal of the season as he moved clear as the club’s second highest goalscorer this term, a great achievement bearing in mind only seven of his 19 appearances this season have been from the start.
In terms of the game itself, United were superior in every aspect other than converting the chances they created – one from 24 goal attempts was a poor percentage.
United had 67 per cent possession against an Everton side rejuvenated under interim manager Duncan Ferguson.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was frustrating for United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who said: “We’re disappointed we didn’t get three points. We didn’t have the ideas to win it towards the end.
“We kept them on the back foot and, if any team was going to win it, it was us.
“We have taken a few steps forward, but this is not backwards, more standing still.”
Solskjaer claimed it was a bad goal to conceded from a set play, but it was a “clean and obvious foul” on goalkeeper David De Gea.
On the positive side, though, Solskjaer was pleased how his side battled back from behind.
He said: “Everton got a goal and had something to hang on to.
“It is work in progress and they are learning. I cannot fault any of them.
“Everton are a quality team which wants to be in the top six and you can see why.”
Solskjaer added it was fitting Greenwood scored as this was the 4,000th match in a row in which United have fielded an academy player in their matchday squad.
“Mason is different class in and around the box and you’re not surprised when he scores goals. It make it hard for me to leave him out,” he said.
Ferguson was delighted to follow up the home win against Chelsea in his opening game with a draw at Old Trafford.
“I cannot complain as it was a fantastic performance but we couldn’t hang on at the end, but I would have been made up with a point before the game,” he said.
United, unsurprisingly, were unchanged from the side that triumphed in last Saturday’s derby triumph.
Everton, meanwhile, had seven players ruled out through injury and illness. Their latest absentees Djibril Sidibe who was taken ill yesterday and Gylfi Sigurdsson who left the team hotel through illness.
There was an electrifying start as United could have taken the lead inside 20 seconds when Jesse Lingard fired narrowly wide.
Fred made a weaving run into the penalty area and the ball rebounded off Tom Davies to Lingard who swivelled and shot on the turn but was unable to hit the target.
Everton could have gone ahead in the second minute when Mason Holgate’s teasing cross was turned over by the bar by back pedalling De Gea who was hurt after crashing into the upright.
United continued to carve out openings as Marcus Rashford and Daniel James both burst clear only to both fire disappointingly wide.
Toffees’ goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had to be alert to beat out Rashford’s free kick.
Everton took a 36th minute lead when the unlucky Lindelof put through his own goal.
Substitute Leighton Baines, who had replaced the injured Lucas Digne, delivered a corner which struck Lindelof at the far post and flew into his own net from three yards.
The goal was referred to VAR to look at Dominic Calvert-Lewis’s challenge on De Gea as he looked to have his arm around his neck, but Craig Pawson, on duty at Stockley Park, awarded the goal.
United had a chance to draw level just after the hour when Luke Shaw, after an attacking raid down the left, forced a decent save from Pickford while the follow-up shot from James struck team-mate Anthony Martial.
Solskjaer made his first change midway through the second half when Lingard made way for Mason Greenwood.
And boy-wonder Greenwood took only 12 minutes to draw United level.
James made a break down the left and played a pass to Greenwood who found the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box.
There was an anxious wait for a VAR check, though nobody seemed to know why his seventh goal of the season was in doubt.
Everton would have regained the lead in the 84th minute but for a fine save by De Gea to turn away a goalbound shot from Alex Iwobi.
United made a second change with four minutes left, Juan Mata for James, but he was unable to help the Reds find a winning goal.