The boy is certainly a fast learner! Barely a year at Old Trafford yet he already has the Manchester United spirit in his blood. Javier Hernandez keeps going until his reward arrives. He did just that on Saturday as his late winner denied Everton a share of the points. He told MUTV afterwards “For 90 minutes we kept going and kept going because we wanted the goal, wanted the three points as soon as possible. We keep going, keep working and it was a difficult day also because it was hotter and that made us a little bit more tired. But the history of Manchester United is like this – we can score in the first minute and also the last minute.”
That late winner from the Mexican goal machine maintained Uniteds six point lead at the top and while the race is not yet over Sir Alex Ferguson has no doubt as to how it will end. “The thing that puzzles me is the media keep saying Arsenal and Chelsea have got to play us still, like we’re going to lose them. Why shouldn’t we win those games?” Ferguson told Sky Sports after the game “as I said to the players, forget all that nonsense. Just try to win your games and you’ll be all right, keep your heads and don’t get carried away.” With Ferguson leading them on, there’s little chance of that happening.
Manchester United 1 v Everton 0
BBC Sport – Javier Hernandez struck a late winner to send Manchester United nine points clear at the top of the Premier League with victory against a dogged Everton. Sylvain Distin gifted United possession and Hernandez made Everton pay seven minutes from time, nodding in Antonio Valencia’s cross at the far post. Hernandez earlier forced two good saves from Tim Howard, while Everton’s Victor Anichebe might have had a penalty.
But after a spate of Howard saves, United’s pressure eventually paid off. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side now only need to pick up seven points from their last four games to be assured of a record 19th English league title. They made hard work for themselves on a gloriously sunny day at Old Trafford but United laid siege to the Everton goal in the closing stages and Hernandez, not for the first time this season, popped up with a crucial goal Full Report
Liverpool Echo – Everton were denied any rewards for a hard-working display as they were sunk by an 84th minute Javier Hernandez header to propel Manchester United’s title bid. The defeat means the Toffee’s winless stretch at Old Trafford grinds inexorably on – with 19 years and counting – as David Moyes’s men eventually succumbed to almost constant pressure from the Premier League leaders.
Everton seemed to have weathered the storm, thanks to some superlative defending from their back four, but Alex Ferguson’s side created so many chances that a goal seemed inevitable in the second half. The Blues were fortunate in the extreme not to concede in a poor first period, and survived only thanks to heroic defending and poor finishing from the home side Full Report
Manchester Evening News – Javier Hernandez scored the winner that has brought Manchester United to the brink of a 19th League title with victory over Everton at Old Trafford. The Reds’ lead at the top of the Premier League is six points after Chelsea defeated West Ham 3-0 in the late kick-off, with Fernando Torres scoring in that game. Everton put up admirable resistance but it was finally broken in the 84th minute when United winger Antonio Valencia crossed deep for Hernandez to head home.
The striker powered in his 19th goal of a sensational debut campaign to send United into the Champions League semi-final with Schalke in winning mood and knowing if they can avoid defeat to Arsenal and Chelsea in their next two league games, they will surely knock Liverpool off the perch they have occupied for so long Full Report
Manchester United – van der Sar, Ferdinand, Fabio, O’Shea (Evra 57), Evans, Anderson, Nani (Owen 63), Valencia, Gibson (Giggs 74), Rooney, Hernandez
Everton – Howard, Hibbert, Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Neville, Coleman (Gueye 75), Bilyaletdinov (Cahill 46), Osman, Rodwell, Beckford (Anichebe 46)
