Right, I now feel I can justify doing a match report for last night's game! I am still smiling, and laughing, and I can even remember some of the game! If you had watched the media, before the game, you might have forgotten that Everton were playing, such was the fuss made of one Mr Van Persie.
But instead of a smooth Dutchman with a cultured line in goalscoring grabbing the headlines, it was a rough diamond from neighbouring Belgium with a wild haircut and an attitude to match who had the final word on Manchester United's campaign opener. Marouane Fellaini was a giant last night, not just in stature, but in ability. International team mate Kevin Mirallas was introduced to the crowd just before Kick Off, even he now must realise what kind of club he has joined!
Fellaini didn't just dismantle the Man Utd backline, he completely destroyed it! OK, Utd, had a few defenders out, but that wasn't our fault, and can take nothing away from the performance. It is only one game, and I wouldn't suggest the Man Utd dynasty is over, but you can bet your bottom dollar that Fulham will be putting their foot in next week!
Not only did we start a game with desire and passion, but we kept it going throughout, even when on the backfoot! The tempo, the tactics, the commitment, and the sheer passion of the crowd all forced United into a reverse gear they have previously had little use for. Van Persie must have been watching and wondering what was happening, and by the time he was introduced, Everton had dug their trench and it was too late!
It was Everton who enjoyed decent possession and showed danger every time they fed the ball towards Fellaini, who used his strength to unsettle not just temporary defenders, but Nemanja Vidic too, who looked decidedly rusty after his long term lay off. In the first half, Fellaini posted his intent on 14 minutes when he burst through two challenges to find a shooting chance from a tight angle, but his clever finish found the post with David De Gea beaten. (That shot seems so long ago!!)
For much of the rest of the game, it seemed a contest between the United keeper De Gea, and the Everton team! I don't think anyone has ever had an issue with De Gea's shot stopping, and he was superb last night, keeping the score down to 1! (Can't quite believe I have just typed that...lol)
De Gea saved two efforts from Pienaar - one from a looping heading which was tipped over the bar, and a curling effort towards the far post, which was put out for a corner. De Gea wasn't finished there, as he saved superbly from Leon Osman, when a goal seemed certain! As a keeper myself, I thought it was a world class save, and even a 'save of the season' candidate! Many Everton fans around me were saying 'he just reacted' or ' it hit him, he didn't know about it' - but that's his job, to react and get in the way! Doesn't matter how he does it! De Gea didn't stop there either, as he pulled off a top corner save to deny a deflected free kick from Leighton Baines! If it sounds like it was all Everton at that point, then that's because it was!!
United had only one moment before the break, when Howard saved well from Rooney's free-kick, and the pattern continued afterwards, with Fellaini again causing havoc and Osman this time beating De Gea... only for the crossbar to save United's skin, although to be fair, he should have scored! I was beginning to think it was going to one of those nights, and if he hadn't already been playing out of his skin, step forward Screech!!
Former Utd player Darron Gibson swung in a corner, and up rose Fellaini to head the ball down into the corner and send Goodison mental!! I love Fellaini's song, but never have I heard it sung by the whole crowd! It's hard to describe the euphoria and joy going round the stadium, I just hope Sky Sports could pick it up!
As expected, Utd started to pile the pressure on, but Everton stood firm as Jagielka threw in a few last minute tackles, including a great goal line clearance, and to my surprise Hibbo stayed in position to make a couple of fabulous blocks. Everton began to sit back (why on why do we do this time after time?!) and my heart was going mental! Van Persie came on, but to be fair only touchd the ball a handful of times. I was more worried when Ashley Young came on, and his ability to fall over! Everton, not surprisingly with the effort they had put in, were dying on their feet, and eventually with 10 mins to go, we saw some substitutions to help the players out!
Fellaini more than earnt his MoM award, and was thankfully subbed in the last few mins, so he could receive a well earned standing ovation!! Darron Gibson even joined in with a chorus of 'It's a Grand Old Team...'. It was a proud evening, and a enjoyable ride home! Must admit, if it was on a Saturday afternoon, I would have been nursing a hangover on the Sunday!!
Next up this evening will be my player ratings!!
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