Manchester United continued their superb form as they beat Everton 3-1 in the FA Cup third round to heap further pressure on Toffees boss Frank Lampard. The hosts took the lead in four minutes when Antony slid home a simple goal following a fine run and cross from Marcus Rashford.
Everton then hit the post through Demarai Gray before Conor Coady tapped in after a calamitous error from David de Gea saw the United stopper allow Neal Maupay’s tame cut back to squirm through his legs.
However, the Toffees suffered a blow just following the restart when Alex Iwobi was stretchered off with an ankle injury. And it got worse on 52 minutes when Coady put through his own net as he tried to defend a cross after another surging run from Rashford.
Everton thought that they had levelled 16 minutes from time when substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin bundled in after excellent work on the right from Gray, but the goal was chalked off by VAR for offside in the build-up.
Rashford added a third in injury-time from the penalty spot as United made it 10 wins from their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Erik Ten Hag’s men made it seven straight wins with what turned into a hard-fought triumph over a plucky Everton side. It maintains confidence and belief for the remaining part of January which could well define how the second half of their season goes.
Next up is a Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Charlton on Tuesday before they host neighbours Manchester City in a crunch clash in the league on Saturday lunchtime.
A week later they face Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday January 22. Should they get positive results in those encounters it could suddenly become very exciting at the top of the Premier League table for United fans.
It is a similarly important period for Everton. They face rock-bottom Southampton at home a week on Saturday before a trip to fellow strugglers West Ham a week later. The Toffees may have lost here but they gave United a difficult match and if they can build on performances like this, and their draw at Manchester City, there is hope for Lampard and co.
Player of the Match, Marcus Rashford of Man United, produced a superb performance on the left, teeing up two goals and continually alarming the Everton defenders with his pace and trickery. Finished off his excellent night with a deserved goal from the spot.
It is of importance to state that Rashford is the first Manchester United player to score in seven consecutive home appearances in all competitions since Wayne Rooney between February and April 2012.
