PICTURES

WEBMASTER'S COMMENT

"Utd fully deserved the 3 points from here. Although Everton were in with a shout when the match was at 2-1 Utd were always in control. Blomqvist got his first for the club in this one."

MATCH REPORT

By Paul Walker, PA Sport

Manchester United warmed up in breathtaking style for their Champions' League clash with Brondby on Wednesday, destroying a defiant Everton side hoping to build on recent encouraging form. But home boss Walter Smith, facing his friend of 30 years Alex Ferguson for the first time as managers, saw just how far his new team have to go before they can live with the best.

United had smashed six against Brondby already this month, plus five against Wimbledon and now four against the Merseysiders. In a glorious unbeaten red October, Ferguson's team have smashed 21 goals in six matches. The game was sadly marred by rubbish, and it looked like some bottles were being thrown into the United penalty area from angry fans.

Referee Paul Jones chose to walk to that end of the ground to see for himself, and was met with a second barrage of missiles, however police and stewards soon moved in to quell the incident. Everton, on a 10-match unbeaten run, had not scored at home all season, but they hit the back of the net through skipper Duncan Ferguson, thus ending a nine hour barren spell. But luck was against them when they hit the post twice in three minutes at the beginning of the second half and they were eventually swept aside by a team who can produce football from a totally different level.

Everton played well for long spells, but they had no answer to the high speed, flowing counter-attacks that cruelly exposed a back line made up of four centre-halves. The Toffees, with only one win against United in their last 10 meetings, flew at the Old Trafford men from the start, and Ferguson could have scored three times inside the first minute.

He first collected a David Unsworth long ball that eluded Jaap Stam and fired in a vicious drive that Peter Schmeichel could only palm away. It came straight back to Ferguson, whose shot was deflected inches over the bar.

From the corner, by John Collins, Ferguson rose to power in a header that Schmeichel saved under the bar. United took the lead after 14 minutes when Andy Cole centred from the left and Paul Scholes - coming in unmarked on the right - laid the ball into Dwight Yorke's stride in the six-yard box.

Thomas Myhre made a superb reflex save from the point-blank shot, but the ball went straight back to York who volleyed it into the roof of the net. United went two ahead after 23 minutes. Roy Keane released Jesper Blomqvist on the left, and his long cross found Beckham free on the far right. When the cross came over, Craig Short somehow managed to head the ball into his own net.

Everton were defending deep and giving acres of space for United's free running stars to surge into. Keane and Scholes were clearly too much for Collins and Dacourt to handle, and Michael Ball was forced inside to help his colleagues, leaving space for Beckham to exploit and run at the exposed Unsworth at left-back.

Everton pulled a goal back. Danny Cadamarteri was brought down out on the touchline and from Ball's flighted freekick, the towering Ferguson rose above everyone in a packed area to power home a header. One moment of controversy clouded United's display. Ibrahim Bakayoko went down under a challenge from Schmeichel as he chased a through ball, and Gary Neville and Beckham both ran 30 yards to complain to referee Jones, claiming the Everton striker had dived.

Bakayoko had not appealed, nor had any of his colleagues, but after several seconds referee Peter Jones decided to book the striker. Nine minutes before the break, Cadamarteri crossed from the right, and Ferguson rose unmarked 10 yards out to head a great chance wide.

Everton came out after the break and hit the post twice inside three minutes of the restart. First after 46 minutes, Stam headed a Collins freekick against the foot of his own post, and two minutes later Collins lashed a right footer against the other post after Cadamarteri had cut a ball back from the line after a fine run. After 52 minutes, Cadamarteri caused more problems on the edge of the box. The ball broke for Bakayoko to blast with his right foot from 12 yards, Schmeichel tipping the shot over the top.

But Everton were hit by another two-goal United burst. After 59 minutes Scholes fed the ball into the box for Cole, who turned to drive a shot in off the far post. Five minutes later United struck again with a stunning killer blow on the break.

Collins lost the ball deep in the visitors' half, Beckham took possession and fed Blomqvist, who raced into the box - saw his first shot blocked by Myhre - but headed the rebound home for the fourth. The rest of the game was played out at practice ground pace, but there was still time for Scholes to drive a 20-yarder against the post in injury time.

POST MATCH REACTIONS

Everton face an FA inquiry after a bottle-throwing incident at the end of their home clash with Manchester United. Referee Peter Jones confirmed after the match that bottles had been thrown at United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, and then when the official went to investigate, more bottles were thrown at him.

Jones confirmed that he will be including the incident in his official report on the game which will be sent to the FA. It is almost certain that on receipt of that report, the FA will launch an investigation and Everton could be in trouble for not controlling their fans.

Jones said: "Peter Schmeichel drew my attention to bottles being thrown from the crowd behind his goal. He had no idea whether they were plastic or glass. I decided to go to investigate myself, and I picked one bottle up and gave it to a steward and asked him to clear the rest. There were about a dozen bottles on the ground, all plastic. I have been told that when I turned my back to go back upfield, more bottles were thrown onto the pitch."

Those bottles were clearly aimed at the Leicester official, who added: "I went to the touchline to talk to the fourth official, Stephen Lodge, and we decided we had to show some concern about the incident, it could clearly have affected players' safety.

"It was a difficult situation in the last minute of play, but I have since talked to the police and the police commander in charge of the match. I was concerned for players' safety, and that is paramount. There will be a report sent to the FA explaining what happened."

TEAMS

Everton: Myhre, Ball, Short, Watson, Matarazzi, Unsworth, Catamarteri, Dacourt, Collins, Bakayoko, Ferguson.
Subs:
Scorers: Ferguson (30)

Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Stam, P Neville, Brown, Keane, Scholes, Blomqvist, Beckham, Cole, Yorke.
Subs: Irwin for P Neville
Scorers: Yorke (14), Short (og 23), Cole (59), Blomqvist (64)

Referee: P Jones