Mighty Vidic stands tall as United back on track

NORMAL service has been resumed, but was there ever any doubt that Alex Ferguson’s demand for a reaction from his Manchester United players would fail?

Not a chance. In fact, it’s not in the United ethos to suffer hangovers from embarrassing setbacks.

But the statistics were stacking up for Ferguson, as was the pressure and expectation ahead of the trip to Goodison. But, as soon as Javier Hernandez opened the scoring, there seemed little doubt they would end another unwanted record hanging over them by winning on Merseyside for the first time since 2007.

While the memory of that Old Trafford humbling remains raw, Ferguson’s approach remains the same in either triumph or adversity. But nobody exploits the pain of defeat quite like Fergie. History suggests just so, with successive heavy away defeats back in 1996 still seeing the Red Devils go on to lift the trophy comfortably.

It may be somewhat difficult to emulate that feat this time around, but the Class of 2012 are at least back on the road to redemption, even if they were far from their best here.

And one player at the heart of that is Nemanja Vidic. The captain has been sorely missed at the heart of the United defence with a calf strain. But he showed just what they have been without for the majority of the season.

The Serbian led by example, heading everything out of the danger zone and ensuring goalkeeper David De Gea was largely limited to long-range shots in their bid to earn themselves a share of the spoils.

“It’s nice as a defender to keep a clean sheet,” said defender Phil Jones. “I thought defensively as a unit, not just four of us but the whole 11 out there, and we defended terrifically well.

“They threw the kitchen sink at us but we stood strong as a unit and held together. Nemanja was excellent. He is our captain and we don’t want to go without our captain. His grit and determination rubs off on everyone else.”

Jones admitted a spell of soul-searching had taken place at the club’s Carrington training base in the wake of their shock to the system.

Not only are Manchester United not accustomed to losing, but the manner of the defeat would have left a bitter taste in the mouth of the players and staff at the 19-times champions. “We have to put it out of our minds, we can’t let it linger,” he added. “It was a bad day at the office, we all have them, and we will move on progress from this.

“Everyone showed just what Manchester United are all about.

“We know we had a bad day at office last week, but we showed fantastic team spirit, got our heads up and earned a massive win.

“Now hopefully we can kick on from here and go on a run and pick up points.”

Big defeats can often expose the frailties of players who have become a declining force in recent times.

This is no more levelled than at Rio Ferdinand, who became the most-high profile United player to pay the price for the dismal performance in the Manchester derby.

It might have surprised many to have seen Jonny Evans preferred to the former England captain, but the Northern Irishman was a resolute figure alongside the outstanding Vidic.

Not that they didn’t ride their luck at times. After Hernandez had swept home Patrice Evra’s cross in the 19th minute, many expected the visitors to maintain their authority and add to their lead.

But this failed to materialise as they seemed to lose their way.

Everton had already threatened via Jack Rodwell moments earlier when Leighton Baines’ free-kick bounced back off the crossbar in the 40th minute.

And the withdrawal of the impressive Tom Cleverley, who limped off with a recurrence of an ankle problem in the second-half, didn’t help Manchester United who were being forced to defend in numbers and with Wayne Rooney pushed into a new midfield role.

But they survived few scares, with Everton’s lack of goals showing up once again with Rodwell’s 49th minute shot the only notable effort to threaten De Gea’s goal.

Everton have now lost four out of their last five games in all competitions, but Rodwell says it was a chance that had gone begging to extend their unbeaten run over United on home soil.

“We definitely think it is a chance missed,” he said. “In the second-half we were pushing forward as they sat back a lot.

“We just lacked that creativity in the final third. We had a lot of possession and there were there for the taking, but didn’t capitalise.

“But we can’t dwell on that, we have a big game at Newcastle next week and have to look at that now.”