LONG CON SILVA

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Toffees boss Marco blasts Martial ‘dive’ as Utd sneak it MANCHESTER UTD .... 2 EVERTON .................... 1

FURIOUS Everton boss Marco Silva branded Anthony Martial a cheat after accusing the striker of diving to turn the game. The French striker scored a brilliant goal that proved the difference between the sides but Silva was fuming about the spotkick call that opened the scoring. Martial won it, when challenged by Idrissa Gueye, and Paul Pogba eventually converted the rebound, after seeing his penalty attempt brilliantly saved by Jordan Pickford. But Silva said: “It was not a penalty – it’s clear the player dived. “It leaves a bad sensation. I told the players at half-time it was not a fair result. The referee made things easier for them. “The penalty made a big impact in the match and all of you have the same opinion as me – we didn’t deserve that. I know the referee can make mistakes like we all do but it’s clear it’s no penalty. The referee is there, it’s not a penalty.

“It changed the game. You’re more exposed then because you have to take more risks.”

Pogba’s bizarre opener – he took 26 steps and longer than Usain Bolt ran the 100m to miss from the spot before finally netting – was followed by the Frenchman setting up Martial to curl in a killer second four minutes after the break.

Everton pulled one back with a penalty of their own 12 minutes from time when Chris Smalling lunged into a reckless challenge on Richarlison. Gylfi Sigurdsson stepped up and remained cool to convert from the spot.

That made a tense finale with United holding on to claim the victory and afterwards manager Jose Mourinho insisted it was the most well-rounded performance of the season.

He said: “This one was complete. The performance was solid and in some moments beautiful but the result was in doubt until the last second. That was the consequence of a goal we concede and some chances we miss.

“We’re playing okay. We’re not as rock solid as I would like, we don’t have that killer instinct I would like.

“For us it’s almost impossible to keep a clean sheet even with the phenomenal goalkeeper we have and scoring is also difficult.”

DAVID MADDOCK

Though there was contact. Milivojevic stroked home again much to the chagrin of Emery. He said: “When you are defending in your penalty area you have to be calm. “Was it a penalty or not a penalty? I respect the referee’s decision but we need to not conce CRYSTALPAL..2 ARSENAL..2 SECOND CHANCE Pogba tucks away the rebound DECIDER Martial celebrates goal, above, and Silva rages, left