No drive without Keane edge

Watching United splutter to this flattering victory, the thought occurred they might, just might, not have it so easy next season if others can grasp the baton handed on by Liverpool, West Ham and now Everton. A straws-clutching notion, perhaps, but one the Premiership must cling to.

It has been a trait of what is petering out into a lead-balloon title race that many of United's lessers have seemed almost frightened to offend when confronted with Alex Ferguson's embarrassment of riches.

It is a fine line. While going gung-ho against the champions is usually the prelude to going belly-up, the popular stifling tactic of clogging defence and hoping for the best has proved a futile exercise. United, after all, have failed to score in only two of their last 51 home games.

Liverpool got the balance right to snaffle a 1-0 win at Old Trafford before Christmas and West Ham did so exquisitely in the FA Cup eight days ago. Everton, too, refused to hoist the white flag on Saturday.

Of course, there is always the suspicion that when the mood takes them, United's bloated resources are such they can dismiss any of their challengers without so much as a cursory look back.

It is also beyond dispute that lately they have been operating on what is known in America as the iceberg theory, namely that the bulk of their most devastating power remains hidden beneath the surface.

Producing only a fraction of their awesome force yet emerging as victors is not a bad habit either, but it has been noticeable of late that visitors to Old Trafford have been playing with a deal more adventure and self-belief. Will it last?

Everton accepted the challenge with surprising relish and the impertinence of it all unsettled United and unnerved their fans. "It must be difficult for the likes of David Beckham and Ryan Giggs to get up for it," said defender Richard Gough. "I know myself from being at Rangers that when you are dominating everything it is hard to motivate yourself."

The absence of Roy Keane deprived United of their driving influence and once Paul Scholes had suffered a recurrence of a rib injury, the midfield skirmish was won by Thomas Gravesen and Scot Gemmill.

Walter Smith's limited but willing side deserved better than the two deflections that cost them. Andy Cole's diagonal shot was drifting wide until it ricocheted off Steve Watson's heel to loop over Paul Gerrard, whereas when Joe-Max Moore's shot struck Jaap Stam, the deflection wrong-footed Fabien Barthez but the ball spun over the crossbar.

MANCHESTER UNITED: Barthez, Phil Neville, Brown, Stam, Irwin, Beckham (Wallwork 72), Scholes (Giggs 46), Silvestre, Chadwick (Sheringham 80), Cole, Yorke. Subs not used: Van Der Gouw, Solskjaer. Goal: Cole 52.

EVERTON: Gerrard, Steve Watson, Gough, Weir, Ball, Naysmith (Unsworth 72), Tal (Jevons 84), Gravesen, Gemmill, Moore (Cadamarteri 77), Campbell. Subs not used: Simonsen, Clarke. Booked: Gravesen, Gemmill.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).