Out-of-sorts United denied by Townsend
Bruno Fernandes says Manchester United have to do much better if they are to win silverware this season after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side stumbled to a home draw with Everton.
While in a stronger position than they were at the same stage last season, the Red Devils failed to build on the feelgood factor of Wednesday’s last-gasp Champions League victory against Villarreal.
Cristiano Ronaldo was Wednesday’s matchwinner, but was on the bench, when United went into half-time ahead through Anthony Martial’s first club goal in eight months.
Everton had threatened before that and Andros Townsend levelled midway through the second half, with Yerry Mina denied a memorable winner having been ruled offside by the video assistant referee.
The frustrating home draw compounded last weekend’s 1-0 league loss to Aston Villa at Old Trafford, where United playmaker Fernandes made his frustration clear.
“We should win,” the Portugal international said. “We should create more chances.
“These last two games at home was not good enough in the Premier League. If we want silverware at the end of the season we have to do much better.”
United have not won a trophy since 2017 and are already out of the Carabao Cup following the recent home loss to West Ham. Solskjaer retains a calm focus amid mounting scrutiny, but knows there are improvements to make over the international break.
“Every game is a big game at Man United, so it’s a big month,” Solskjaer said, with October trips to Leicester and Tottenham book-ending the Champions League home clash with Atalanta and visit of Liverpool. It has been a big month. Lots of changes have happened at the club in the last month, so we’ve just got to be focused, make sure we use the international break well.
“The other ones who go away with their national teams come back with energy again, clear focus, good mindset and do well.
“But the mindset is good, the players are hungry to improve and today we dominated the game, we just couldn’t get that second.”
Martial wasted a great early chance when heading an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross off target.
Everton defender Michael Keane met Townsend’s free-kick from the right with a glancing header just wide, before Jordan Pickford prevented the hosts pulling ahead in the 21st minute after Edinson Cavani met a Fred cross with a firm downward header.
Salomon Rondon and Townsend saw efforts blocked, before Demarai Gray turned Scott McTominay, went past Fred and hit a shot that David De Gea saved one-handed.
United took the lead through a quality move. McTominay played into Mason
Greenwood, who swept over for Fernandes to kill the ball and play onto Martial, who fired a right-footed strike past Pickford.
Everton caught United from their own corner in the 65th minute. Fred was all too easily outmuscled by Gray and played into Abdoulaye Doucoure, who followed good footwork with a pass out to Townsend, who hit a low right-footed drive past De Gea.
Sub Paul Pogba headed wide from a corner, only for Everton to celebrate a goal from one at the other end in the 85th minute.
Ben Godfrey coolly put Tom Davies behind the backline, directing across for Mina to tap home.
The towering defender ran off to the corner, where his celebratory dance was made to look a little foolish as the video assistant referee rule out the goal for offside.
“I think overall it was a great performance,” said Everton boss Rafa Benitez.
“The team was doing really well in defence and on the counter attack.
“We can be happy with one point, but it could be even better.”