The plot may have more twists than usual, but this year's championship race could still end up as the same old story. Victory here yesterday had the visiting fans chortling: "United are back." More to the point, Ryan Giggs is back.
It was no coincidence that Alex Ferguson's side spluttered through their poorest sequence in years while the Welshman was hamstrung. Restored to the side, he left Everton - rugged competitors before running out of steam late on - dazed and confused.
"It was good to be playing again," said the 28-year-old. "We didn't create many chances, but the longer we kept it goalless we always felt we could go on and win it. Now we just have to keep on grinding out results like this." Few should bet against them doing just that.
Giggs skipped up and down the left flank, terrorising Steve Watson and spinning tantalising crosses into the area. Gary Naysmith did wonderfully well to deny Ruud van Nistelrooy at the near post midway through the second period; David Weir and Abel Xavier scrambled clear after another centre induced panic in the six-yard box.
Andy Cole, kicking his heels in the stands and denying any knowledge of a £10 million sterling move to, among others, Aston Villa, must have been drooling for such service. It was inevitable United would break through.
The only surprise was that it came from the winger's head rather than his menacing supply line. Neat passes between Van Nistelrooy, Phil Neville and the substitute David Beckham pre-empted a mouth-watering cross from the England captain. Giggs, darting between Watson and Xavier, flicked an unstoppable header beyond Steve Simonsen.
"I couldn't see where a goal was coming from, but David's capable of producing great crosses like that," said Ferguson. "Defences can't cope with that, but I will repeat that we still need a momentous run to win the title." Thereafter, with Everton's spirit visibly drained, a fourth successive win was duly sealed five minutes from time. Fabien Barthez's throw was flicked into Giggs's path by Ole Gunner Solskjaer. The winger advanced and when his cross was missed by a back-tracking Scot Gemmill, Van Nistelrooy thumped home his 11th goal in 14 starts.
"We worked extremely hard, but they play with more economy than we do," conceded the Everton manager Walter Smith. "We have to be flat out throughout, pressing hard, but we tired near the end. They just found that extra bit of time and space in which to make their quality tell. No complaints." Even so, had Simonsen not tipped away Juan Sebastian Veron's 20-yard volley in stoppage time, the scoreline would have flattered the champions.
Everton rattled United's fragile defence early on and should have capitalised on their hesitancy. Yet, despite handing Jesper Blomqvist a first start since he played for United in the 1999 Champions League final, the home side lacked the guile or poise to convert that pressure into telling goals.
A third defeat on the spin hardly seemed likely when Gemmill sent Tomasz Radzinski scurrying into the area early on and his pull-back was almost converted inadvertently by Laurent Blanc. From the scramble at the resulting corner, David Unsworth - hardly the most mobile of stop-gap midfielders, but a willing worker - skimmed a close-range shot just wide when it seemed easier to score.
With the crowd deflated, Giggs tore upfield and crossed for Van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman mistimed his header, the ball smearing off his chest to Solskjaer who scuffed a close-range shot which Simonsen smothered. A few half-hearted penalty appeals aside, that was the nearest United came until Giggs stole the show.
EVERTON: Simonsen, Xavier, Weir, Unsworth, Naysmith, Alexandersson (Gascoigne 82), Gemmill, Gravesen (Moore 8), Blomqvist (Ferguson 73), Watson, Radzinski. Subs not used: Gerrard, Tal.
MAN UTD: Barthez, Phil Neville, Blanc, Gary Neville, Silvestre, Veron, Keane, Butt (Beckham 56), Giggs, van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer. Subs not used: Irwin, Carroll, Yorke, Wallwork. Booked: Gary Neville. Goals: Giggs 78, van Nistelrooy 85.
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).
