Match Review
Manchester United 3 v 0 Everton, Old Trafford, 20.00 Wednesday 29th November 2006.
Manchester United: Ronaldo (39), Evra (63), O'Shea (89). Attendance: 75,723.

United strolled passed Everton and increased goal difference to +26 as strikes from Ronaldo, an account opener from Patrice Evra and a JOS late effort claimed three easy points for the Reds. Many fans shook their heads in disgust when the team was announce as once SAF made the extremely bold decision in making five changes to the line-up that began against Chelsea.

Silvestre, Richardson, O'Shea, Fletcher all started leaving Scholes and Saha on the bench. While two of those changes were enforced to account for Giggs (calf) and Vidic (facial injury) the remainder were criminally insane giving this season's results when a similar policy has been adopted Copenhagen, Southend.

The game started much as expected with sloppy passing but plenty of possession with no real impact as the much changed side struggled to get any real sort of momentum going. United's sloppiness could have cost them as Carrick was caught in possession by Everton's McFadden, and after a one-two with Osman the Scot fired wide to let the Reds off the hook.

Kieran Richardson then went close with a free kick - the young Bentley driver hitting the crossbar with his set piece. United slowly started to take control of the game as Rooney went close with a header from Silvestre's cross, only for the former Everton man to see his effort go wide.

United then opened the scoring after a well struck effort from Carrick was blocked by Valente but Ronaldo was on hand to profit from the deflection and shoot past Richard Wright for a fortunate opener.

Rooney, who received stick from the opposing fans most of the night, went close again after Ronaldo supplied the pass but his placed shot was saved by Wright. He may not have scored but El Blanco Pele then laid on a perfectly weighted pass for the overlapping Patrice Evra who blasted the ball under Wright for United's second goal and some much needed daylight.

With the game effectively won on the hour SAF removed Ronaldo and Carrick, replacing them with Heinze and Brown respectively.

Everton's attackers were well marshalled by Ferdinand who seemed to be everywhere at the right time. Silvestre also coped well with only some minor heart in mouth moments. In a major turning point, Joseph Yobo headed an effort over from close range that could have brought Everton back into the match.

Phillip Neville later exacted his own kind of revenge, heavily challenging Wayne Rooney fairly to leave the Scouser in agony on the floor.

Rooney, still wanting to get on the scoresheet himself, would be the instigator of United's final goal. The former Everton player's effort was blocked but the ball found itself at the feet of Evra on the left who found the unmarked O'Shea to flick the ball home.

A mention goes to Laurie who is recovering after an accident. Get well soon you Blackburn Hillbilly!

Player Ratings
van der Sar (6); Neville (6), Ferdinand (7), Silvestre (6), Evra (8); Fletcher (6) , O'Shea (6) Carrick (7); Richardson (3) Ronaldo (7), Rooney (7).
Subs Used: Heinze (6) for Ronaldo (68 mins), Brown (6) for Carrick (73 mins).
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Saha, Scholes.

United's Man of the Match
Patrice Evra is showing why SAF bought him. Almost a year on and the attacking French fullback looks a bargain, keeping Gaby Heinze out of the team with some brilliant performances

Match Reaction
Win, lose or draw SAF made a big mistake in changing five players. While two were forced out the remainder were a huge gamble. Why make all the changes at once? As it happened United ran out easy winners, but with a wafer thin squad surely SAF now has to realize that he can only rest his best players ONCE a game is put to bed.

Richardson showed again why he is in dire need of a transfer out of the club; Rossi now deserves a chance to play in the first team.

Was Our Prediction Right?
We said 3-1 to United. Rant 3 v 20 Wrong Predictions.

Milestones
Cristiano Ronaldo's 23rd Premiership goal of his United career and 32nd goal overall for the club
Patrice Evra's 1st goal of his United career
John O'Shea's 6th Premiership goal of his United career and 9th overall

Miscellaneous Info
United's next match is on Saturday 2nd December 2006 against Middlesbrough in the Premiership with a 17.15 kick off.