United beats Everton 3-0 to rise to 2nd in league

United beats Everton 3-0 to rise to 2nd in league

By ROB HARRIS, AP Sports Writer 1 hour, 29 minutes ago

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MANCHESTER, England (AP)—Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 victory over Everton on Saturday to rise to second in the Premier League and keep the pressure on leader Chelsea.

Darren Fletcher volleyed the defending champions ahead in the 35th minute, and Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia added goals in the second half as Everton was completely overwhelmed.

“The performance was controlled. We showed good patience in the first half, which you need to break down teams like Everton,” United manager Alex Ferguson said. “Everyone was talking about the lack of goals from midfield, but fortunately we have got two of the midfield players scoring today.”
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The victory sent Ferguson’s side above Arsenal, which lost 1-0 at Sunderland, while remaining five points behind Chelsea, which thrashed Wolverhampton 4-0 to follow its win over United before the two-week international break.

“If we get to New Year within a point, in front or round about the leaders, we have a big chance in the second half of the season,” Ferguson said.

While the Red Devils were dominating in midfield, Everton held out until Patrice Evra crossed from the left flank and Valencia headed the ball back for Scotland midfielder Fletcher to exquisitely volley into the top corner off the goal frame.

“Everton were making it difficult for us, getting men behind the ball,” Fletcher said. “Antonio knocked it down and I just concentrated on getting a good connection on the ball. Luckily, it went in the back of the net.”

Growing frustrated at United’s dominance, midfielder Marouane Fellaini was cautioned for a late tackle on Fletcher that will see him suspended for Wednesday’s trip to Hull.

Everton was briefly roused by switching to two up front after the break when Yakubu replaced Dan Gosling to partner former United striker Louis Saha.

“They went direct and had a lot of power and height up front,” Ferguson said. “We had to work hard to keep them at bay.”

Fellaini had the ball in the net at the start of the second half, but was adjudged to be offside.

“We didn’t do enough today. Manchester United had a lot of dominance from the game, so I can’t complain about it,” said Everton manager David Moyes, whose regular top-six finishers slipped to 13th.

“We are really patched up due to injuries at the moment and trying to find a winning formula has not been easy.”

Michael Owen was making just his third Premier League start for United alongside Wayne Rooney, but a first league goal in two months proved elusive as the 29-year-old forward made little impact.

Owen’s best opening came in the 66th after being released by Ryan Giggs, but he took one touch too many to give Sylvain Distin a chance to intervene.

From the resulting corner, however, Owen’s former England teammate, Michael Carrick, scored his first league goal of the campaign in the 67th.

Rooney’s shot from Ryan Giggs’ corner went wide but was kept in play by the Welsh midfielder, who returned the ball to the edge of the area and Carrick slotted home.

Valencia, who has made more appearances this season than any other United player, rounded off the victory with a deflected strike off Baines in the 76th.

Before Saturday’s trip to Portsmouth, Ferguson can field an under-strength side against Besiktas with a spot in the Champions League knockout stage already assured.