Spurs can’t get one past De Gea
NO 5: SOLSKJAER’S TEAM EXTENDS WINNING RUN TO FIVE
Manchester United proved yesterday that their recovery under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is no flash in the pan, with Marcus Rashford pouncing to seal a 1-0 win in a thrilling contest against Tottenham.
The two sides went toe-to-toe in an open game but while both teams had multiple chances, United goalkeeper David de Gea proved the difference, making a string of phenomenal saves.
Interim manager Solskjaer has installed Rashford as his number one striker and was rewarded when the 21-year-old scored the decisive goal in the 44th minute.
Paul Pogba sparkled for United, engaging in a personal duel with Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for periods of the second half.
United’s victory is their fifth successive Premier League win under their temporary manager in a contest seen as his first major test since he took over from the sacked Jose Mourinho last month.
The win lifts United to level on points with fifth-placed Arsenal and six behind Chelsea, currently in the fourth and final Champions League spot, but Spurs remain nine points behind leaders Liverpool.
In the other Premier League game yesterday, Kurt Zouma’s second-half header and substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s stoppage-time strike saw Everton beat Bournemouth 2-0 to climb into the top half of the table.
This victory was just Everton’s second win in nine league matches and the first time they kept a clean sheet at their Goodison Park ground since November 24.
Zouma opted to celebrate his goal with under-pressure Everton boss Marco Silva, telling Sky Sports: “I went to the manager because he wants me to score more than last season.”
“It was a really important game for us,” said Silva. “We have to achieve the results, for us it’s important to regain some form, and some confidence also and a clean sheet is also important.”
The deadlock in an often frustrating match was eventually broken when Zouma – on loan from Chelsea – scored his first goal for Everton in the 61st minute.
A nervous Everton then had to survive concerted Bournemouth pressure at the end of a rainswept encounter before, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, the Toffees put the result beyond doubt.
Calvert-Lewin struck a low shot from 16m into the corner of Begovic’s net.