Everton put up a blue brick wall and stymied wave after wave of United attack to earn a point from a goalless draw. (Reports: BBC, Soccernet, ManUtd.com.)
The Old Trafford faithful chanted Rooney’s name provocatively (and somewhat prematurely) at the kickoff but they had little to cheer about at the end.
Ronaldo, Smith and Scholes all hit the woodwork while Saha couldn’t direct a header goalward from six yards out but United weren’t completely unlucky. The Red Devils were fortunate not to have a penalty awarded against them when Silvestre blatantly handled the ball in his own area while under pressure from Duncan Ferguson.
United simply couldn’t find a way past a side content to sit back and nullify every offensive move. This happened last season and it’s starting to be a recurring theme this season as well.
If there was one positive from this match, it was the assured performance of Jonathan Spector, the young American defender (and Jonathan Taylor Thomas look-alike). He managed to deal with whatever threat Everton posed on United’s left flank and even made a few good offensive runs.
United are now seven points behind Arsenal and Chelsea and while that’s hardly a worrying gap in August, it is worrying to see United struggle like this.
