Manchester United close in on City as Anthony Martial goal downs Everton
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Updated 03/04/2016 at 20:25 GMT
Old Trafford, Premier League - Manchester United 1 (Martial 54) Everton 0
Manchester United's French striker Anthony Martial (R)
Image credit: AFP
Anthony Martial hit the only goal to beat Everton 1-0 as Manchester United kept up their challenge for Champions League football.
United celebrated 60 years at Old Trafford for Bobby Charlton before kick-off, the Red Devils legend honoured with a stand in his name.
But the football failed to live up to the occasion during a cagey opening half, both sides failing to register a single shot on target with Romelu Lukaku and Martial threatening only sporadically.
The second half produced only slightly more entertaining fare, Martial turning in substitute Timothy Fosu-Mensah’s cross to put United in front.
Phil Jagielka then rattled David de Gea’s crossbar and also had a shot parried by the United keeper but Everton offered little else in attack as United held on for a victory that moves them a point behind rivals Manchester City.
Everton’s second away defeat of the season leaves them 12th in the table, two points behind West Bromwich Albion.
TALKING POINT
United's big milestone. Only one goal but that goal was the 1000th scored by Manchester United at home in the Premier League - a record. Sadly, that was the biggest talking point on Sir Bobby’s big day.
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Anthony Martial celebrates with Jesse Lingard, Matteo Darmian and Juan Mata after scoring the first goal for Manchester United
Image credit: Reuters
MAN OF THE MATCH
Daley Blind (Manchester United): The outstanding player in a notable United defence on the day. Kept the prolific Romelu Lukaku in his back pocket. A class act.
PLAYER RATINGS
Man Utd: De Gea 6, Darmian 6, Smalling 7, Blind 8, Rojo 6, Schneiderlin 6, Carrick 6, Lingard 7, Mata 6, Martial 7, Rashford 7. Subs: Fosu-Mensah 6, Valencia 6, Herrera 6.
Everton: Joel 6, Baines 6, Jagielka 7, Stones 7, Coleman 6, Cleverley 6, McCarthy 7, Lennon 6, Barkley 6, Deulofeu 6, Lukaku 6. Subs: Mirallas 6, Niasse 6.
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Manchester United's David De Gea clears from Everton's Romelu Lukaku
Image credit: Reuters
KEY MOMENTS
54’ – GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Everton: Martial turns in Fosu-Mensah’s cross as Manchester United become the first team to score 1,000 PL home goals.
56’ – CROSSBAR! Phil Jagielka rattles De Gea’s bar with a thumping header.
83’ – SAVE! De Gea to the rescue again to deny Jagielka’s shot in the box.
KEY STATS
Manchester United become the first team to score 1,000 PL home goals. On 22 August 1992, Denis Irwin netted the first for United at Old Trafford in a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town.
Manchester United claim their 50th top flight home win over Everton. United have only more top flight home victories against Aston Villa (53) and Tottenham (52). (Also 50 against Arsenal)
No side has kept more clean sheets this Premier League season than Manchester United (15).
THE MATCH IN A TWEET
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