BEVERLY HILLS, November 07, (THEWILL) – Manchester United’s central attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes scored twice and veteran striker Edinson Cavani opened his Red Devils’ account in a 3-1 away win at Everton that will ease the pressure on underfire manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
After back-to-back losses to Arsenal in the Premiership and Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League, Saturday’s Premier League tie at Goodison Park was seen by many as a must-win match for the manager amid increasing speculation over his future.
Things looked worrying for the Red Devils boss when Bernard put Carlo Ancelotti’s side ahead, but Fernandes scored twice before half-time and Cavani struck at the death to deliver three valuable points.
The visitors were behind with 19 minutes on the clock. Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin controlled keeper Jordan Pickford’s long kick and helped it on to Bernard. The Brazilian left winger’s effort squeezed into the bottom-left corner through defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s legs.
But, Fernandes, who also equalised in the previous meeting at this ground, drew United level again. The midfielder powered a header beyond Pickford after running into the box to connect with left back Luke Shaw’s delivery.
The Portugal international then calmed anxious nerves when put his side ahead in the 32nd minute. After a Man U 20-pass sequence, Fernandes pulled a cross that sailed in off the right-hand post after Marcus Rashford had tried to glance it in.
In the second half, United captain Harry Maguire argued for a penalty when Pickford and Everton centre back Michael Keane clashed with him after the Everton goalkeeper had dropped the ball. However, neither the officials on the pitch nor those using VAR agreed.
Rashford smashed another strike at Pickford as United failed to find a third goal on the break, although they kept the home side at bay despite the Toffees controlling possession in the second half.
Yet, as Everton poured forward in injury time, Maguire’s interception sent Fernandes away on the counter, and he, rather than scoring, waited before teeing up Cavani to sweep home for his debut Man U goal.
The victory came as a timely and important result to quieten some of the recent mounting criticism on Solskjaer. Also, that it is against a side unbeaten in three games against United, at a ground where the Red Devils lost 4-0 in April last year in their worst display under the Norwegian, makes this performance more impressive.
United are on 10 points from seven matches and three behind Everton, whose manager has now suffered three consecutive league defeats for the first time since November 2006, when he was at AC Milan.
Fernandes continues to impress. No other player has managed as many goal involvements (15) in their first 10 away matches in the Premier League. In this game, he was an extremely important presence in pressing the Everton midfield.
On the other hand, James Rodriguez was rather quiet. The winger struggled to dictate matters from the Everton right but he created no chances and attempted zero shots before being replaced by Turkish forward Cenk Tosun.
Both teams have no more games until after the international break when United host West Brom on November 21 and Everton are away to Fulham.
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