Premier League: Bruno Fernandes nets brace as Manchester United recover to beat Everton
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Updated 07/11/2020 at 16:33 GMT
Premier League, Goodison Park - Everton 1 (Bernard 19') Manchester United 3 (Fernandes 25', 32', Cavani 90')
Edinson Cavani of Manchester United celebrates scoring their third goal
Image credit: Getty Images
Manchester United arrested a run of back-to-back defeats by coming from a goal behind to claim a creditable 3-1 Premier League win over Everton at Goodison Park.
The hosts took the lead through Bernard but were soon pegged back by Bruno Fernandes' brace and Edinson Cavani's late winner, which were enough to secure a win which lifts the pressure on United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
It was Everton who made the brighter start to the game and were duly rewarded when a long ball from Pickford fell kindly to Bernard off Victor Lindelof's head. The Brazilian had a dig and drove it past David De Gea at the keeper's near post.
But United responded well, with Rashford stabbing one wide before Luke Shaw picked out Fernandes, who headed past Pickford expertly.
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Fernandes was involved with the second too, receiving the ball from Rashford and clipping it towards the England forward at the far post. Rashford claimed that his header had made its way into the net off the post but there was some confusion as to whether he had made contact, with the goal later being awarded to his Portuguese team-mate.
VAR controversy struck in the early period of the second half, with Maguire denied a penalty after being cleaned out by Pickford, before the England defender was perhaps lucky not to give away a spot kick himself for a lunge on Digne, who had previously been flagged offside.
Everton dominated possession throughout the second half but failed to create any real chances, and Rashford could have had the visitors even further ahead after beating the offside trap, only to find Pickford's legs.
Throughout the second half, Everton were unable to trouble De Gea and the United defence did enough to repel them, with Cavani netting a late goal on the break to end the contest.
TALKING POINT – Fernandes rescues United yet again
After Everton's bright start, with countless questions over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's future beginning to surface once more, United needed someone to take hold of the game. And that man was Bruno Fernandes. He levelled the match with a fine header and put his side ahead, although he was most likely looking for Rashford.
And at the death, he was there to lead the counter attack and turned down the chance to score his hat-trick to tee up Cavani for the clincher. He is simply the most important player in this line-up right now.
MAN OF THE MATCH – Bruno Ferndandes
We're running out of superlatives for Fernandes, but aside from the match-winning contribution detailed above, he also led the fight in midfield for United. He wore fouls throughout the 90 minutes, and when his team were out of possession, he was making tackle after tackle. That he had the energy to lead the counter attack for Cavani was miraculous.
PLAYER RATNGS
Everton: Pickford 4, Coleman 6, Keane 5, Holgate 5, Digne 5, Doucoure 4, Allan 5, Sigurdsson 6, Rodriguez 5, Calvert-Lewin 6, Bernard 7. Iwobi 6, Tosun N/A
Manchester United: De Gea 5, Wan-Bissaka 6, Lindelof 6, Maguire 7, Shaw 7, McTominay 7, Fred 7, Mata 6, Fernandes 9, Rashford 7, Martial 6. Subs: Tuanzebe 6, Cavani 7, Pogba N/A
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Bruno Fernandes
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY MOMENTS
16' CHANCE! United should be in front. The corner is cleared poorly by Holgate as far as Fred, whose attempted volley is sliced. It falls kindly to Martial, who tries to caress it left-footed into the bottom corner but it goes wide.
19' GOAL!!!! Everton are in front. Just as United had started to brighten up. Pickford hoofs it long towards Calvert-Lewin, who is marshalled by Lindelof, who wins it. All the defender can do is flick it into the path of Bernard, who squeezes in a shot at De Gea's near post.
25' GOAL!!! United are level! The visitors attack down the left once more and Shaw floats in a delightful ball. The unmarked Fernandes bounds forward, leaps and plants a header into the top corner. A fine header and an excellent equaliser.
28' Off the post! Everton bound forward down the left and good combination play feeds Digne, who advances on goal and looks to power it past De Gea, but his effort finds the outside of the post.
33' GOAL!! United are ahead! Fred feeds Rashford, who picks out Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder clips a ball towards the far post and Rashford, who nods it in off the post. The replays reveal some confusion as to whether the England striker touched it but he celebrates and claims it.
60' Dear, oh dear, Jordan Pickford. The Everton keeper drops a free kick straight into the path of Maguire, who is completely cleaned out by Keane and the England No 1. Maguire's shot goes over the bar and somehow the VAR decides it's not a penalty.
72' What a chance! Rashford beats the offside trap and is alone as he marches towards the Everton goal, but Pickford saves his tame effort. That could have been curtains - there was no sign of the flag!
90+5' GOAL!!! Everton are left kicking themselves as Doucoure misses his kick in the United box and United charge up the other end to finish it once and for all. It's Cavani on the end of the break and it's an assist for Fernandes.
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KEY STATS
- Manchester United are the third team to win three straight Premier League games by coming from behind after Leeds (October 1999) and Tottenham (December 2013)
- Bruno Fernandes has 10 goals and five assists in 10 Premier League games on the road
- This is the first time Carlo Ancelotti has won three straight league games since November 2006 with AC Milan
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