Match report: Everton 0 United 1
Benjamin Sesko ensured Manchester United's first visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium was one to savour, as he scored the only goal of the game to secure a fifth victory in six outings under Michael Carrick.
The Slovenian substitute's strike salvaged a point at West Ham United last time out, and he was once again the headline-maker, sliding home after 71 minutes to settle a tight contest at Everton's new home.
Sesko ran on to Bryan Mbeumo's pass and curled past Jordan Pickford, a quarter of an hour after being introduced by Carrick.
Senne Lammens was a key contributor at the other end, and the Blues huffed and puffed but failed to make a dent in the Reds rearguard, as we kept a first away clean sheet of the season.
FIRST HALF – INITIAL EXCITEMENT PETERS OUT
The Everton supporters welcomed their side out with a huge flag display and the intense atmosphere generated in the stands transmitted on to the pitch right away.
United passed back to Lammens at kick-off and the onrushing Thierno Barry quickly blocked the attempted clearance, with the Belgian doubtless breathing a sigh of relief when he turned to see the loose ball trundling out for a goal-kick, rather than towards his net.
Moments later, our first attempt on goal looked to be rolling in, but James Tarkowski was on hand to clear off the line, after Amad’s attempt had squirmed under Jordan Pickford, following mishits from Diogo Dalot and Matheus Cunha.
On a wet Merseyside night, both sets of players struggled get to grips with the surface and build sustained attacks, but Dalot worked space on the right and forced Pickford into another stop, this time more substantial as he batted the full-back’s drive clear.
The Reds were dominating possession but lacking penetration, although Dalot went close when unleashing from 20 yards, before Mbeumo failed to work Pickford with his own effort from distance.
James Garner, who made seven appearances for us after coming through the Academy, had the Toffees’ best chance of the half but his rasping free-kick was plucked out of the air by Lammens.
Bruno Fernandes was then off-target with his own strike, moments before Darren England brought the opening 45 minutes to a close.
SECOND HALF – SESKO SEALS IT
Everton looked re-energised following the resumption and it took just 30 seconds for Harrison Armstrong to test Lammens’ reflexes when Iliman Ndiaye found him at the back post.
A similar situation at the other end saw Mbeumo just clear the crossbar, after good work by Kobbie Mainoo out wide had left Tarkowski scrambling. Carrick had seen enough and, with chances still at a premium, Sesko was introduced in the 58th minute to inject an alternative element to the attack.
Sesko has been the difference-maker off the bench under Carrick and he quickly had the opportunity to break forward with Cunha, but the Brazilian slipped before he could lay his team-mate in.
Fortunately Mbeumo kept his footing five minutes later when our no.10 picked him out to isolate the full-back and launch a classic United counter.
Sesko was nowhere to be seen until, suddenly, he was bearing down on goal, racing in to receive Mbeumo’s pass and sidefooting beyond the sprawling Pickford. It was a cold-blooded finish, and similarly cool heads would now be needed to see the game out.
Mbeumo, cramping up, was sacrificed for Noussair Mazraoui, as Carrick looked to shore up a backline coming under increasing aerial bombardment.
Lammens had to palm over another howitzer from a former Reds man, with Michael Keane this time trying his luck.
The Blues flung corner after corner towards the Belgian, most of them punched clear, before Sesko went close to wrapping it up, only to be crowded out by Pickford.
There was still time for Tyrique George to let fly, but Lammens was more than a match for a Blues attacker again, as we held on for what could be a priceless three points in the race for Champions League football.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Yoro, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad (Sesko 58), Fernandes (c), Cunha (Heaven 90+5); Mbeumo (Mazraoui 77).
Subs not used: Bayindir, Malacia, T. Fletcher, Moorhouse, Ugarte, Zirkzee.
Goal: Sesko 71.
Booked: Maguire, Mazraoui, Fernandes.
Everton: Pickford; Garner, Tarkowski (c), Keane, Branthwaite; Iroegbunam (Beto 79), Gueye; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Armstrong (George 73); Barry.
Subs not used: King, Coleman, Mykolenko, Patterson, Rohl, Dibling, McNeil.
Booked: Pickford, Tarkowski.