DARREN FLETCHER and Michael Carrick could come to be the poster boys for Manchester United's first season since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo: understated, unglamorous, quietly relentless. Precisely the qualities that Alex Ferguson covets most, then.

This dismembering of Everton was laborious in the extreme but the United manager could hardly care less when his two midfield enforcers were the architects of ultimate victory.

Those foregoing an evening in with Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole in favour of this instalment of the Ex-Factor, in which Wayne Rooney was baited terribly by the Everton fans he used to represent, could have been cursing themselves until Fletcher found his range.

It is no coincidence that seven of the last nine games United have lost have been without Fletcher in the side and the Scot's third goal of a fine campaign, breaking down a feeble Everton, was arguably his most significant yet.

Carrick, who covers more ground less conspicuously than anyone, could not resist chipping in with a crisp second-half finish before Antonio Valencia profited from a fortunate deflection for United's third. More than enough for Ferguson to be happy with, and yet this match had an ugly sub-plot.

Trouble flared in the away end as more than 50 police officers were required to control a surge by Everton fans in the wake of Fletcher's strike. The atmosphere had been tense from kick-off as Everton fans targeted Rooney without mercy.

The abuse became particularly vicious as a small band chanted "Die, Kai Rooney", in reference to the forward's newborn son.

Everton have an ugly record in this area, having subjected Liverpool's Steven Gerrard to similarly disgraceful chants last season after the birth of his child. Rooney's every touch had drawn derision and the tipping point came when Fletcher put United ahead after 34 minutes. Several officers who waded in to calm the unrest received rough treatment and the travelling contingent were penned in with a tight police cordon for the remainder of the game.

Louis Saha was the forgotten man in this collision of the exes, the former United striker having been asked to plough a lonely furrow up front for Everton against a side dominating play with ease. United's monopoly on possession was embarrassing as they strung three times as many passes together as their hapless opponents in a one-sided first half.

Ryan Giggs was displaying all his acute awareness, espying an early run by Michael Owen and contriving a sublime dummy to befuddle the Everton defence.

Everton rarely advanced beyond the halfway line and when they did, Leighton Baines' neat flick-on could only be scuffed by Saha. United's remorseless pressure was far from attractive to behold but it deserved the reward that it was bound to yield.

Patrice Evra, who had previously received a mouthful from Rooney for the failure to play an easy ball into his feet, showed the better part of his abilities with a fine surge down the left, whipping in a visionary cross that Valencia adroitly headed back, straight into the path of Fletcher.

Now, we knew all about the midfielder's predatory instincts from his two goals in this season's first Manchester derby, but little about the ferocity of his striking.

Until yesterday. Fletcher pounced on the loose ball with all the confidence borne of his stellar recent form to unleash a strike into the top corner and far beyond the reach of Tim Howard.

In the Everton dugout, manager David Moyes was incandescent, and could be seen remonstrating with the fourth official at half-time about a perceived foul on Dan Gosling in the build-up. Moyes had little to complain about, though, so toothless were his team.

Marouane Fellaini, frustrated as the intended foil for Saha, scythed into Fletcher studs first, connecting with none of the ball but a good deal more of his victim's ankle. The Belgian was rightly booked but the punishment could easily have been worse.

Carrick, eventually, was the man to settle United's nerves, set up by Giggs after Rooney botched a spectacular attempt on goal from a corner. Valencia also got lucky when his strike from the right looped goalwards off Baines to put United out of sight.

And afterwards, Evra called on Manchester United to win every game between now and the end of the year.

"It is a good win, a great result, it was not easy against a tough team like Everton," he said. "I think when we scored the second goal it killed the game and that's why we won tonight.

"It was not easy after the international break, we are a little bit tired, but I think we played with a lot of experience tonight.

"We are five points behind (Chelsea) now and we have to win every game into December now as we have already qualified in Europe and the internationals as well are finished. We need to focus on the league because we want to win it four times in a row."

Reflecting on Fletcher's 20-yard effort which opened the scoring, Evra added: "Fletcher is a great player and it was an unbelievable goal."

Telegraph

- oliver brown

Sunday Independent