Benjamin Sesko was Manchester United’s super-sub for the second match running as the Slovenian scored the only goal against Everton to send Michael Carrick’s men clear in fourth spot.
Thirteen days after Sesko struck deep in injury time to rescue a point at West Ham, the £73.7m forward applied a clinical first-time finish to a 71st-minute counter-attack that he had started deep in his own half.
Sesko kept motoring after laying a pass off to Matheus Cunha. By the time Cunha had delivered a long pass to Bryan Mbeumo, the eager Sesko had outrun Everton’s defence and was on hand to stroke home his eighth goal of the season.
Remarkably, only two of those goals came under former boss Ruben Amorim, with three coming in Darren Fletcher’s two-game stint in interim charge and three under Carrick, who has now won five of his six games at the helm.
It was a moment of class that was a long time in coming in a match that was low on quality at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Both sides struggled against obdurate defences, having gone almost a fortnight without a game after playing early in the last round of matches, late in this one and with no FA Cup game in between after respective early exits.
In a game of few chances, James Tarkowski cleared off the line in the first half after an effort from Amad was half-saved by Jordan Pickford.
Visiting goalkeeper Senne Lammens denied teenager Harrison Armstrong, who had Everton’s best attempt before Michael Keane let fly with a thunderous long-range effort eight minutes from time. The shot was heading towards the top left corner but Lammens was again alert, with the Belgium international tipping the ball over.
This result means it is now seven home games without a win in all competitions for Everton, who sit ninth.
In six games at the helm, Carrick has made two changes to his starting line-up, both due to injury.
Lisandro Martinez missed this one because of a minor calf problem, which meant Leny Yoro had to step in at the back.
He is backing his players, and he knows there is firepower on the bench too.
When United performed as poorly as they had done at West Ham, some critics were already taking to social media to claim the bubble had burst.
However, Carrick has trust in Sesko. With less than an hour gone and with little sign of a goal coming, Carrick sent on his towering forward.
His finish was not as eye-catching as the one at London Stadium, but he held his nerve when it mattered.
Sesko should have had a second after he was sent clear by Diogo Dalot as the game entered stoppage time.
If he had taken it, it would have spared United a few anxious minutes. As it was, he failed to control the ball properly, and England goalkeeper Pickford was able to see off the danger.
Sesko’s goals in his latest two games could prove priceless as United strive for one of what seem certain to be five Champions League places for English teams.
Not only have United put three points between themselves and Chelsea and Liverpool, who sit fifth and sixth, but they are now only three points behind third-placed Aston Villa, who they entertain at Old Trafford in three games’ time.
David Moyes wore a look of irritation and frustration as he went to shake hands at the final whistle.
The Scot knew that for much of the contest his home side had been the equal of the club he once managed.
But, as has been the case often for Everton, big-spending opponents delivered a moment of quality for which the Toffees had no response.
Moyes has promise in his squad. That was clear when looking at Armstrong, former United midfielder James Garner, who excelled at right-back, and Tyrique George, who was denied by Lammens deep in stoppage time as Everton desperately chased an equaliser.
Tarkowski, Pickford and Keane are reliable and experienced. But the elite level depth is not there.
Moyes spoke in his programme notes about chasing targets beyond the ones Everton have recently been used to going after. In recent seasons, their mission has essentially been to deal with a chronic financial situation and stay up.
A new stadium means new ambitions, and there has been no relegation danger this season. But Everton want more than mid-table security.
The only problem with that is – as Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are finding out – without sufficient resources, juggling Premier League and European football is a fresh strain on resources than can be exceptionally tough to overcome.
Moyes will keep pushing for those loftier spots in the table because it is his nature, but perhaps the top half and no more would not be a bad outcome for the first campaign away from Goodison Park.
What comes next?
Everton are next in action in the Premier League at Newcastle United on Saturday, 28 February (15:00 GMT). Manchester United entertain Crystal Palace on Sunday, 1 March (14:00 GMT).
Source: BBC Sports
