Manchester United vs. Everton: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Manchester United moved to within a point of fourth place after beating Everton 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday. Anthony Martial scored a second-half winner for United on a day when the club renamed a stand to honour legendary former player Sir Bobby Charlton.

Martial met substitute Timothy Fosu-Mensah's cross 10 minutes into the second half and smartly steered the chance home to become United's leading scorer in the league this term, per Virgin Media.

That proved decisive in a fairly drab game featuring few clear-cut chances for either side. In fact, the visitors couldn't even muster a shot on target during more than 70 minutes, according to Sky Sports Statto.

Unsurprisingly, United remained unchanged from the side that beat fourth-placed Manchester City in the derby last time out:

As for Everton, boss Roberto Martinez featured wing wizard Gerard Deulofeu from the start:

Martinez sprung a mild surprise on United early, playing Aaron Lennon on the left, while Deulofeu took up residence on the right. The Toffees' width helped create a bright start for the visitors, with Deulofeu a consistent outlet.

But the standard of supply into dangerous target man Romelu Lukaku was inconsistent at best, and United always survived. Stuart Mathieson of the Manchester Evening News identified a key figure at the back for United in the early stages:

But the Red Devils also needed goalkeeper David De Gea on top form to keep Everton at bay. The agile Spanish stopper was cat-quick off his line to beat Lukaku to a through ball midway through the first half.

As for United's own efforts in the final third, the Reds relied on jet-heeled forwards Marcus Rashford and Martial, both of whom looked threatening. Yet United were perhaps a little too reliant on the pair, as Squawka helped detail:

But Martial did come closest to opening the scoring for United, only to be denied by a superb last-ditch tackle from Everton centre-back John Stones.

That kept the game scoreless at the break. It also confirmed an unwanted statistic for United, according to WhoScored.com:

It didn't take long after the restart for what had been a drab game to finally liven up. United and Martial's landmark moment came, when the Frenchman met Fosu-Mensah's astute cross.

The league's official site confirmed the piece of history Martial's finish made:

Meanwhile, Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News was impressed with 18-year-old Fosu-Mensah's contribution:

But the Toffees nearly drew level immediately after the restart when Phil Jagielka's header crashed off the bar, with De Gea well beaten in the United goal. Then it was Jesse Lingard's turn to go close to a second for United, as the match well and truly opened up.

Needing a goal, Martinez swapped the lively Deulofeu for forward Kevin Mirallas. United gaffer Louis van Gaal had taken off veteran holding midfielder Michael Carrick for the more progressive Ander Herrera moments earlier.

Everton carried a threat whenever they loaded the box for a set-piece. Jagielka saw a low drive blocked from a corner, while ex-United midfielder Tom Cleverley saw the same after a well-worked free-kick.

United ultimately held on to pile the pressure on both Manchester City and Arsenal at the foot of the top four.

Post-Match Reaction

Martinez described a particularly annoying feeling after watching his team narrowly beaten, per the club's official site: “It is a real disappointment because you have that ‘nearly’ feeling. We are disappointed with the goal we conceded and after that we created the better chances."

As for Van Gaal, he was content to dedicate the win to Charlton:

The Dutchman also reassured supporters about the fitness of defender Daley Blind, one of the day's standout performers, who had to be substituted during the second half:

It was dour stuff from the home side. But while their lack of attacking guile is often criticised, United deserve plaudits for their stingy defensive displays, having kept consecutive clean sheets and conceded the second-fewest goals in the division, per the league's official site.