Benjamin Sesko’s late winner lifts Manchester United to fourth, extending Michael Carrick’s unbeaten start as manager.
BENJAMIN Sesko came off the bench to fire Manchester United to a 1-0 win at Everton. The victory extends Michael Carrick’s unbeaten start in charge and lifts United to fourth in the Premier League.
The Slovenian striker, a £74 million signing from RB Leipzig, has hit top form since Ruben Amorim’s sacking last month. He has now scored six goals in his last seven appearances after netting just twice in his first 22 games for the club.
Sesko’s decisive moment arrived 19 minutes from time. It was the product of a brilliant team move that was out of character with an otherwise uninspired 90 minutes.
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The substitute laid the ball off to Matheus Cunha deep inside his own half before sprinting downfield. He then slotted home Bryan Mbeumo’s perfectly-weighted pass to secure all three points.
United had to see out a late Everton rally as goalkeeper Senne Lammens tipped over Michael Keane’s long-range piledriver. The clean sheet was their third in six games under Carrick.
Prior to Amorim’s departure, United had managed just two clean sheets all season. The defensive improvement is helping them close in on a return to the Champions League for the first time in three seasons.
Victory lifts United three points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool in the battle for a top-five finish. Only the top five are set to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Everton, meanwhile, have now failed to win in seven home games. They struggled to adapt to life at their new 52,000-capacity Hill Dickinson Stadium.
David Moyes’ men missed the chance to move up to seventh. They remain on the fringes of the fight for a place in Europe next season.
United have been transformed since former midfielder Carrick took the reins. However, they lacked rhythm as both sides played for the first time in 13 days.
Jordan Pickford saved from Amad Diallo inside two minutes in the only notable chance of a drab first half. Mbeumo, preferred again ahead of Sesko, missed his one opportunity early in the second period when he blasted over from a narrow angle.
