The Red Devils edge past a spirited Toffees side, as an impressive Rashford display proves sufficient to sink the visitors out, tripping up at the first hurdle. Despite some late Everton pressure, the home side were able to continue their recent good run of form, and unlock the fourth round of the FA Cup.

It was a tie which was worthy of the FA Cup third round, as the home side showed how much it meant to them by coming out the traps firing on all cylinders. After just four minutes they were already ahead thanks to a Rashford-Antony combination, as the players swapped their traditional roles to combine for the first goal of the game. The English striker was too quick for his marker, racing into the box before he crossed it across the face of goal to assist a charging Antony, who was there, ready to slot home for 1-0.

As time went on, The Toffees gradually settled into the game more, but still offering little going forward in terms of attacking threat. However, after successfully seeing off repeated waves of Red Devils attacks, Coady was on-hand to fire in the equaliser. Teammate Neil Maupay danced down the right side of the box, teasing the Manchester United defender by dragging the ball all the way to the by-line. He eventually poked it across goal and, luckily for him, his pass dribbled its way through De Gea's open legs, finding its way to a Coady who was lying in wait to punt home the easiest goal he will get.

De Gea will not want to re-see that one, as he will feel he should have offered a better defense against the Maupay cross. Thankfully for the Spaniard, the visiting side did little to challenge him for the rest of the half, as it was Ten Hag's men who had the better of the rest of the proceedings. Christian Eriksen had a great chance near the close of the first half, as his left-footed curl just missed out on flying into the top corner. The Dane would have been disappointed it failed to trouble Pickford, who had certainly earned his money after he had been called into action several times throughout the half.

January 6, 2023

Ten Hag's men were evidently keen to re-find their first-half dominance once they came out for the second period, as they were straight back on the front foot. Their relentless pressure was eventually rewarded as they soon re-found the lead. Toffees defender Coady played a key part in it, but not in the way he would have wanted - the English centre-back put it into his own net after Rashford dazzled on the left flank once more, which culminated in a low cross which left the Everton man with no choice but to intervene, in turn sliding it past teammate Pickford.

Despite continued pressure for the home side, Lampard's men did not give up. After Englishman Dominic Calvert-Lewin entered the fray, the away side looked like coming back into the game. Not long after, Demari Gray found himself in a bit of space on the right wing, which gave him the chance to square it for Calvert-Lewin. He then chested it home past De Gea, sending the away fans into delirium. It was soon wiped off, however for an offside in the build-up, which immediately brought the travelling fans back down to earth.

The last ten minutes would have been undoubtedly tense to play as the United defence, with the Toffees not going down without a fight, keeping the home side camped in their own half. The home side decided to defend in the best way possible by attacking Pickford's goal even more, earning themselves a flurry of late corners. This allowed them to stall for time and see out a deserved 3-1 win over their fellow Premier League opposition.

Star-player Marcus Rashford then rounded off a great evening for himself, after promising talente Garnacho was fouled in the area, perfectly setting up the Englishman to finish off the tie from the spot. He made no mistake, and added yet another goal to his bulging tally for the season. This result means that it is the Red Devils who progress to the FA Cup fourth round, and will await to find out who their opponents will be. All eyes will be on the draw this Monday, and the road to Wembley continues for Ten Hag's men.

January 6, 2023

Conor Coady

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