Everton ordered Manchester United to switch ends at kick-off when they traditionally attack the Stretford End in the second half, as if Jordan Pickford's goal would be hexed. For 36 minutes, it was.
After all that attacking and feckless finishing, it was apt that the charmed life that Pickford's goalframe led expired through a purportedly defensive-minded scorer.
Scott McTominay's goal-getting nous is renowned enough that whenever his name appears on the scoresheet it is not incongruous. He was deployed as the deepest of United's front six and still had the positional discipline to burst into the gap that Michael Keane had dozily afforded him and lashed the ball past a porous Pickford.
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Should Daniel Levy opt to inflate Harry Kane's valuation, he need only present United with their chance conversion rate from this first half. United hit Pickford, the post, the advertising hoardings and the Stretford End. They had 21 attempts; their most in a first half since records began in 2003-04.
Everton were uncharacteristically open. On three occasions, United exposed the auxiliary left-back Ben Godfrey with long balls for Antony, dashing from inside his own half. Godfrey was so awful he was hooked at the pause.
United's interval advantage, a modest 1-0, was misleading. Everton were obliging opponents, a shadow of the compact workhorses who gained a point off Tottenham at Goodison Park on Monday evening, yet United played their most dominant and creative 45 minutes of Erik ten Hag's reign. It would have been a travesty had they returned to the dressing room goalless.
Their progressive play was underpinned by Bruno Fernandes, lauded by Ten Hag in midweek for "initiating" United's controlling spells against Brentford. In the fourth and final match without Casemiro, United perfected their midfield balance with Fernandes again paired with McTominay and Marcel Sabitzer roaming behind Marcus Rashford.
Fernandes has recorded more flattering numbers in past seasons at United but this has been his most complete. With or without the armband, as was the case in this fixture with Harry Maguire recalled, his influence is near-constant wherever he plays. Fernandes has never allowed his sudden versatility to be a hindrance.
Sabitzer, a canny 11th-hour loanee, has been a revelation as the No.10 and would be a worthy permanent addition. Suddenly, United have an embarrassment of riches in midfield with Christian Eriksen match-fit again and Casemiro's four-match suspension now over. United can be content with their return of three wins and one defeat in his absence.
In attack, it is not as auspicious. Marcus Rashford was forced off in the 80th minute and immediately seemed to signal a groin strain. He had to gingerly walk halfway around the pitch, handing his shirt to a young fan by the tunnel.
Ten Hag can be consoled that this victory was attained without Rashford registering but his goals have secured a staggering 13 wins. United do not lack goal threats but do struggle to get goals. Antony was ruthlessly punished for not punishing Everton with a withdrawal that was harsh but vindicated.
Rashford's hobbling made Anthony Martial's impact in place of his Brazilian namesake especially timely. Ten Hag's rhetoric at Carrington on Friday suggested Martial would warm the bench again and amid the sunshine he was left in the shade once more.
Martial has scored against Everton more than any other club and must have rued this latest omission from the starting XI. Inevitably, Martial made it an eighth in 16 against his patsies. Seamus Coleman has shared the same turf as Martial for most of those and it was his error that gifted the Frenchman the contest-killing strike on 71 minutes.
Martial hardly bust a gut to replace the unfortunate Antony when he was summoned by Ten Hag in the 57th minute. He did not stride to the touchline for nearly two minutes and spent as much time with the kit man Alec Wylie, handing him a piece of jewellery, as he did receiving instructions from Ten Hag and his assistant Eric Ramsay.
Everton were let off the hook five times in the opening 12 minutes. United's botched three-on-one was almost as good an opportunity as Rashford's one-on-one, executed so casually Ten Hag buried his head in hands at that eighth-minute opportunity. It would either be coming or one of those days. The goal would eventually come.
Antony and Rashford were lax in a collaboration that was neutered by Alex Iwobi, Antony pinging the post from the resultant corner and Aaron Wan-Bissaka somehow screwing wide on the rebound. An Old Trafford goal in front of a capacity crowd continues to elude the right-back almost four years into his Old Trafford career.
Harry Maguire daren't underperform as the £80million centre half against a former United trialist. Ellis Simms's sole appearance in red for the youth team nearly six-and-a-half years ago was against Everton and he was profligate when found unattended inside the United area with the game goalless.
McTominay did not miss his chance.
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