Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Gary Neville refused to give Manchester United any excuses for conceding late on against Everton in the Premier League.
Manchester United were literally seconds away from picking up back-to-back Premier League victories before Ainsley Maitland-Niles earned Everton a 2-2 draw at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Michael Carrick said the result felt like a defeat for United, and the Red Devils are now down in 11th in the Premier League table after picking up just four points in the opening three games.
Both of Everton’s goals against United were thunderous strikes and while it is easy to argue that there is little United could have done to stop them, Gary Neville is swatting that excuse away.
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Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
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Gary Neville slams Man United for Everton equaliser
Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, Neville argued that United only have themselves to blame for Everton’s late equaliser.
“Lazy analysis will say they conceded two spectacular goals. The Maitland-Niles goal is a really bad one,” Neville said.
“Dorgu for some reason chases out and presses, an isolated press. It gets played past Dorgu – it’s a massive mistake, a lack of communication.
“United had to change their back four during the match. Yoro coming on at right-back highlights the problem – he plays so narrow.
“A lot happens before the ball goes in the net. When you’re playing away, holding onto a result, you have to push up and not do stupid things. They could have stopped the goal at source.
“I was screaming as it happened, as they had to be organised, they weren’t organised in the final few minutes.”
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Three Man United mistakes led to Everton dagger
Neville is right.
When Carrick looks back on Everton’s late equaliser, he will spot a chain of mistakes that led to an opportunity to shoot.
Patrick Dorgu had good intentions when charging down Jordan Pickford, but he was caught out of position and was punished for a lack of discipline.
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Substitute Leny Yoro then failed to stop Everton’s cross from out wide, and Noussair Mazraoui’s clearance is poor.
In his post-match comments, Benjamin Sesko also took some blame for the goal, explaining that he could have done more to close down Maitland-Niles before he shot.