Premiership: All square as Everton entertain Man Utd

Everton 0, Man Utd 0 (half-time)

Everton battled bravely to make life tough for the champions at Goodison Park.

Manchester United had much of the possession, but failed to create genuine chances in the first 45 minutes.

The doggedness of Everton was becoming increasingly impressive with Unsworth providing strength in a backline which was contesting everything.

Jesper Blomqvist started to show some neat tricks as his confidence grew, and he provided the side with much needed width.

Gary Neville was booked on 30 minutes for a late tackle on Radzinski after the Canadian international had turned cleverly onto an Unsworth pass.

The competiveness of Everton made United work for their space, and on 33 minutes Giggs cruised down the left to fire in a cross that Ruud Van Nistelrooy touched on for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to force a fine save from Simonsen.

Another Giggs cross on 38 minutes evaded three defenders in the six-yard box and Gary Naysmith was forced into a worrying hack over his own bar to clear the danger.

Radzinski, increasingly on his own up front, did force Barthez into another save to his left, taking an Alexandersson pass and drilling in a low right footer.

Van Nistelrooy headed wide from a right wing cross a minute later, and complained bitterly about a supposed handball by Abel Xavier.

But Everton created another chance when Moore scooped a shot over his head, the ball hitting Gary Neville before Barthez clutched it gratefully.