Supersub Sesko strikes again
Benjamin Sesko was again the difference as Utd overcame Everton at the Hill Dickenson Stadium on Monday night. The Slovenian came off the bench to provide the clinical touch in the second-half. It keeps us in the hunt for Champions League football next season.
It was another poor display at home by Everton though. They struggled to create meaningful chances from open play and were denied by Senne Lammens when they did. It is now seven games at home without a win for them.
Michael Carrick was forced into making one change from the side who drew at West Ham last time out. Lisandro Martinez picked up a calf injury and Leny Yoro came back into the side for the first time since the Leeds game. Benjamin Sesko remained on the bench despite having scored at the London Stadium.
David Moyes made three changes from their loss to Bournemouth. Jake O’Brien was suspended and both Tyrique George and Vitaliy Mykolenko dropped to the bench. In came Michael Keane, Timothy Iroegbunam, and Harrison Armstrong. The full-backs were a midfielder in James Garner and a centre-half in Jarrad Branthwaite.
Everton were looking to do the double over Utd after a victory at Old Trafford back in November. It was the visitors who had the first chance though. Bruno Fernandes spread the ball out wide to Bryan Mbeumo. He volleyed a pass into the centre that was missed by Diogo Dalot but the loose ball was seized upon by Amad Diallo. His effort looked to have gone under the body of Jordan Pickford. James Tarkoswki was in the right place to clear it off the line.
The home side managed to limit the amount of chances for most of the half though. By packing the midfield, and lying deep, they were able to deny the forward trio any space to work their magic.
The best Everton were able to create at the other end saw Iliman Ndiaye and then Idrissa Gueye denied by blocks before they could have a shot off goal.
Diallo attempted to spark some life into proceedings and he won a free kick after skipping past Jarrod Branthwaite. The initial delivery by Fernandes was poor but the headed clearance came straight out to Dalot. His dipping effort from the edge of the area flew just past the post.
Senne Lammens had been underutilised for most of the game but he was called into action just before the break. He did well to catch a free kick from James Garner that had venom behind it.
The second half started again in a bright fashion. Fernandes dropped deep to pick up the ball and played it into the feet of Kobbie Mainoo. He floated a deep cross into the area. It was sliced into the air by Tarkowski with Mbeumo lurking behind him. He was unable to keep his effort down from a tight angle.
Carrick shuffled his deck and introduced Benjamin Sesko for Diallo just before the half-hour. It was the home side who almost went into the lead shortly after though. Kieran Dewsbury-Hall stole the ball away from Casemiro and tried his luck with a low shot. It was deflected away for a corner. Lammens came bravely out to intercept that in a sea of bodies.
But it was from another corner that we saw the opening goal on 73 minues. Matheus Cunha had tracked back to help out his backline before intercepting the ball outside his own area. He spayed a wonderful crossfield pass in the direction of Mbeumo who was the furthest forward. He surged forward before noticing Sesko who had raced forward from the corner to support him. The Cameroon winger slid an exact pass into his path and the big striker finished into the bottom corner for his seventh league goal. A classic counter-attack.
Everton starting to pile on the pressure and Utd found themselves boxed into their own area. They almost found a way through with eight minutes to go. The backline were unable to get the ball clear enough and it came into the feet of the former reds defender Michael Keane. His effort from distance was heading towards the top corner but Lammens was able to get a hand to tip it over.
The corners for Everton were becoming ridiculous as the game approached the end. Every time the ball was swung in a number of players tried to barrage Lammens into the net. The Belgian stood firm though.
Sesko did have a chance to seal the win in injury time on another breakaway. This time Pickford was able to come out and block him before he could get his shot away.
They were able to see it out until the end though for a crucial win. It keeps them in the European race and just three points behind Aston Villa. We next take on Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday. Everton must travel to Newcastle on Saturday.
Everton: Jordan Pickford, James Garner, James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, Jarrad Branthwaite, Timothy Iroegbunam (Norberto Beto 79), Idrissa Gueye, Harrison Armstrong (Tyrique George 73), Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman-Cheikh Ndiaye, Thierno Barry.
Subs not used: Tom King, Nathan Patterson, Dwight McNeil, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Tyler Dibling, Seamus Coleman, Merlin Rohl.
Booked: Jordan Pickford (77), James Tarkowski (83)
Sent off: None
Manchester United: Senne Lammens, Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw, Carlos Casemiro, Kobee Mainoo, Amad Diallo (Benjamin Sesko 58), Patrick Dorgu, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha (Ayden Heaven 90+5), Bryan Mbeumo (Noussair Mazraoui 77).
Subs not used: Altay Bayinder, Joshua Zirkzee, Tyrell Malacia, Manuel Ugarte, Tyler Fletcher, Jack Moorhouse.
Booked: Harry Maguire (84), Noussair Mazraoui (90+2), Bruno Fernandes (90+5)
Sent off: None
Referee: Darren England
Attendance: 52,236
Simply Red Man of the Match: Senne Lammens
Leave a Reply