Manchester United 3 Everton 0

Last updated : 07 October 2002 By Footymad Previewer

It was a scoreline that flattered Manchester United and left Everton dizzy in disbelief.

For 86 minutes, Everton had held United at bay and looked to be heading for their first point at Old Trafford in ten years.

Then the United bugle sounded and the red cavalry came charging over the hill with three goals to take the points and move fourth in the Premiership.

United had been building up for a late onslaught in the previous 20 minutes, but the unimaginative hosts had been comfortably held by an efficient Everton backline.

But with four minutes of normal time to go, Ryan Giggs - making his 450th start for United - crossed from the right side of the Everton box.

Ruud van Nistelrooy went for the ball, only to see it bundled away from him, but Paul Scholes was on hand to rifle in a low left-foot shot from eight yards.

Three minutes later, van Nistelrooy sent substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer racing clear. As the Norwegian rounded Everton defender David Weir, the Scottish international pulled him back and then brought him down in the box.

Referee Mike Riley pointed to the penalty spot and then showed Weir the red card.

Needless to say, van Nistelrooy drove home the resulting penalty, right footed and straight into the middle of the goal as Everton goalkeeper Richard Wright went to his right. It was the Dutchman's seventh goal of the season - three of them penalties.

Everton were down and out, but Scholes rubbed salt into their wounds two minutes into stoppage time with a ferocious 25-yard right-foot shot which went in off the underside of the bar.

United's best chance before their onslaught came from David Beckham's glorious 78th minute chip which bounced off the Everton bar and over.

Everton could have scored five minutes later when 16-year-old substitute Wayne Rooney raced onto a Kevin Campbell pass just inside the United half.

He weaved his past Mikael Silvestre, Laurent Blanc and Scholes before getting in a shot from the edge of the penalty area that was bundled away by United keeper Fabien Barthez