Everton 1, Man United 1: Missed chances costly for Reds

IN WHAT looks like being one of the tightest title races for many years, how Manchester United could live to regret the two points they carelessly let slip at Everton.

And how also could Wayne Rooney regret his show of petulance if the Football Association decide to charge the Reds’ striker.

Rooney found himself courting controversy on his return to his old club where is despised after once being idolised by fans who have never forgiven him for heading to Old Trafford.

When Rooney was booked for a challenge on Mikel Arteta, he responded to a further torrent of abuse by kissing the club badge on his shirt.

Referee Alan Wiley ran over to speak to Rooney who was almost immediately substituted.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson curiously blamed the match official rather than his player, saying: “I didn’t know why he was booked and I had a fear about the way the referee was behaving.

“I didn’t think the referee was giving our players proper protection. I saw some bad tackles and it is the referee’s job to protect players.

“The crowd were reacting and I thought he might get sent off, so I had to take him off.”

It wasn’t the best of afternoons for the entire team and Ferguson must still be flummoxed by the failure not to collect maximum points.

They were hardly threatened in the opening hour when United’s superiority bordered on the ridiculous. The one failing was an inability to take their chances.

But once Everton got back on level terms, their confidence rocketed and they could have snatched victory as United lost their composure.

It was a remarkable change of fortune but one which made for a fascinating contest.

“You can’t deny them their point. We had some good chances and should have capitalised on them, but didn’t,” explained Ferguson.

And Everton boss David Moyes admitted that in their poor run of form, he felt the draw was as good as a win.

“Seeing United against Celtic in midweek, and how good they were, to get a point against them at the moment is as good as a win,” he declared.

After a nondescript opening, United took the lead midway through the first period with a move of supreme quality.

Ryan Giggs, again defying age with a magnificent display in the centre of midfield, threaded a perfect pass to Darren Fletcher to shoot low through the legs of former Reds’ keeper Tim Howard.

Howard pulled off superb saves to deny Cristiano Ronaldo and Nemanja Vidic as United produced some delightful first-touch football.

And how they were to pay for those misses midway through the second half when the 6ft 4in Belgium international midfield player Marouane Fellaini , a £15million summer buy from Standard Liege, rose above Vidic to head home a cross from Phil Neville.

Barely two minutes later Rio Ferdinand made an uncharacteristic slip to let in Yakubu only for keeper Edwin van der Sar to somehow manage to deflect his goalbound shot on to the far upright.

It set up a thrilling finish in which Everton suddenly found a self-belief they lacked in the opening hour.

Yet United had the best opening to snatch victory in the 87th minute when substitute Nani set up Ronaldo who pulled his shot disappointingly wide.