Christmas stuffing for Everton

Single mothers, unemployed teenagers, folk on the breadline, the broken-hearted, refugees and the homeless - the Archbishop of Canterbury's Christmas message managed to encompass almost every sector of the under-privileged and under-nourished in English society. But Dr George Carey omitted one of the groups currently suffering the most - Evertonians.

Against a Manchester United side shorn of Peter Schmeichel (bad back), Teddy Sheringham and Ryan Giggs (both demoted) from the starting line-up, the blue die-hards of Merseyside had maybe sniffed a chance, but after the 15th minute when Henning Berg put United in front with a header from half an inch, the Everton faithful knew they were watching their team's 11th league defeat of the season.

Had Everton won the other nine, of course, their situation would not be quite as bad but, having started the day three points ahead of Barnsley at the bottom of the Premiership, Everton finished it only two away from Danny Wilson's men.

More significantly, Everton lost a point on Bolton, Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace, all desperately scrapping for air above them - the famous 43-year record in the top flight is in double jeopardy.

Afterwards, Howard Kendall was everything his team had not been - mature and uncompromising. "An embarrassing 90 minutes" was Kendall's opening flourish. "It was men against boys," and "the score-line flattered us," followed. But the ultimate criticism and a measure of the scale of Everton's despair, came when Kendall saw the United team sheet without Schmeichel, Sheringham and Giggs and started "hoping for a York City."

Everton, however, never even had a glimpse of the territory of York's 3-0 victory here two seasons ago.

As for United, well, they simply keep up the momentum and at a pace which has those around them slipping into the distance. Six points now separate the champions from their nearest challengers, Blackburn Rovers, although yesterday Alex Ferguson's side never had to start marching because this was the gentlest of strolls.

Ferguson acknowledged as much saying: "It was a game of the first half, the second half was a non-event. But in the first half, we were absolutely superb at times and Andy Cole's goal was the highlight."

Indeed it was, Cole collecting Nicky Butt's sharp pass 40 yards from goal, then taking it on a further 15 yards and as Carl Tiler and Craig Short both backed off, it seemed at first as if Cole would pass to the overlapping David Beckham. Instead - and to the glowing amazement of Old Trafford - Cole produced the most delicious of chips that left the otherwise impressive Thomas Myhre motionless.

The ball hit the top corner of Myhre's net and, as Ferguson said, was reminiscent of Eric Cantona's effort here against Sunderland last season. With it, Cole may finally have stepped out of Cantona's shadow.

On his record - this was Cole's 13th goal in the last 11 matches - that should certainly be the case, although he could actually have scored more during the first half hour when Everton were carved apart.

Particularly exposed were Tiler and his partner on the left side of defence, Andy Hinchcliffe. From the earliest of United probings, it was obvious that here Beckham and Gary Neville were going to have a fruitful afternoon and sure enough, United's first attack saw Neville run onto Beckham's perfect pass, only for Cole and Ole Solskjaer to watch the cross fly by.

No matter, from another Beckham centre soon after, this time from the left, Ronny Johnsen rose at the far post to nod the ball back across the Everton six-yard area. There, the hapless Earl Barrett shinned it towards his own goal, but Berg pounced on the line to spare Barrett's blushes.

Myhre then made a fantastic stop from Solksjaer's volley - Solksjaer deservedly keeping Sheringham out on his first-half display alone - Beckham hit the cross bar and Cole and Solksjaer had further shots blocked.

Cole's goal signalled the end of the affair, though Solksjaer and Beckham both wasted good second-half opportunities.

Everton, meanwhile, created nothing. In mitigation, the spine of Slaven Bilic, Gary Speed and Duncan Ferguson was absent and Kendall said that Ferguson, back from suspension, is a sure starter tomorrow against Bolton. Then again, Dave Watson will definitely not play.

United travel to Coventry then and Ferguson, after admitting yesterday to feelings of "surprise" at the size of their lead, then delivered his own New Year message: "I hope we come out of the Sunday game with that intact. Then we'll be set up nicely."

Manchester Utd: Pilkington, G Neville, Johnsen, Pallister (McClair 74), Beckham (Poborsky 66), Butt, Cole, P Neville (Curtis 83), Scholes, Solskjaer, Berg. Subs Not Used: Sheringham, Giggs. Booked: G Neville, Cole, Poborsky. Goals: Berg 14, Cole 35.

Everton: Myhre, Barrett (Allen 65), Short, Hinchcliffe, Tiler, Watson (Jeffers 45), Ball (Thomsen 78), Oster, Farrelly, Barmby, Cadamarteri. Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Thomas. Booked: Farrelly, Allen.

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).