After playing after a whole raft of their relegation rivals in recent weeks, Everton had the opportunity to get points on the board early against a Manchester United side busy fighting on four fronts but instead fell to an all-too-predictable 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
Going into the 12:30pm kick-off unbeaten in their last four matches, Blues possessed at least a modicum of hope going into what has long been a difficult venue for them.
Yet despite fashioning a huge opening for Ellis Simms when the game was still goalless, the rookie striker failed to show the kind of conviction he displayed coming on at Chelsea last month and rolled a tame shot wide of goal.
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United – whose attacking pace made them a potent force on the break – had already peppered Everton’s goal with a series of efforts and while England number one Jordan Pickford had to be at his best to keep out a string of chances, the deadlock was finally broken on 36 minutes when Scott McTominay beat him at his near post following a patient series of passes.
While the Blues had netted twice in both of their last away games, there was no way through here and in truth they showed few signs of a comeback after the break before captain Seamus Coleman’s failure to control a long ball from Lisandro Martinez gifted Erik ten Hag’s side a second goal on 71 minutes as Rashford squared the ball to substitute Anthony Martial for a simple tap-in.
Instead of waiting before they play, Evertonians are now left sweating on results elsewhere – with head-to-heads guaranteeing some rivals will pick up points – in the hope of damage limitation before Marco Silva’s Fulham come to Goodison Park on Grand National day.
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