Blog: Good Evans

the Stretford End after 62 minutes. However, on came Carlton Cole, very much the chief tormentor and somebody who possibly gave Evans nightmares after bagging a rare brace on 30 November 2010.

The muscular substitute's first contribution was to barge into the back of his marker and leave Evans groggy and requiring attention. Whether it was a deliberate attempt to shake up the defender is open to debate but it was fascinating watching the United man's response.

Time after time, he judged his leaps to perfection and cleared the ball with measured aggression. Cole did occasionally get there first and helped create the odd moment of danger but Evans stood firm andled the way in terms of battening down the hatches.

Some may argue there will be sterner tests to face than Carroll, Cole and a club that was, after all, playing Championship football last season. However, if there were any psychological effects of that defeat to the Claret and Blues lingering for Evans, they were surely banished once and for all on another chilly evening in Manchester.

Hopefully, Jonny will no longer have to answer questions about any loss of form. That night in London's East End is well and truly behind him and a string of consistent performances for club and country have proved his class beyond doubt.

The only problem now is for Sir Alex as he can only choose two centre-backs when captain Nemanja Vidic returns to fitness. After praising the 24-year-old again, it's difficult to see the Scot ignoring the claims of one of the club's best performers and somebody who is emerging as a true leader.

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