Hernandez pops up at the far post to score Manchester United's winner
By Jonathan Stevenson
Javier Hernandez struck a late winner to keep Manchester United six points clear at the top of the Premier League with victory against a dogged Everton.
Sylvain Distin gifted United possession and Hernandez made Everton pay seven minutes from time, nodding in Antonio Valencia's cross at the far post.
Hernandez earlier forced two good saves from Tim Howard, while Everton's Victor Anichebe might have had a penalty.
But after a spate of Howard saves, United's pressure eventually paid off.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side now only need to pick up seven points from their last four games to be assured of a record 19th English league title.
First season a 'dream come true' - Hernandez
They made hard work for themselves on a gloriously sunny day at Old Trafford but United laid siege to the Everton goal in the closing stages and Hernandez, not for the first time this season, popped up with a crucial goal.
United now head to Germany for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Schalke on Tuesday knowing the Premier League is theirs to lose.
Yet with so much to play for it was a subdued start to the game, with United seemingly paying the price for resting the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick as they struggled for any fluency against an Everton side looking to extend an eight-match unbeaten run.
Ferdinand's challenge on Anichebe could have earned Everton a penalty
Wayne Rooney summed up the frustration inside Old Trafford when he very obviously berated his team-mates for a lack of energy and that proved the catalyst for United to produce their best spell of the first half.
Nani shot at Howard from an angle on the left, Hernandez forced the keeper to parry wide after a neat one-two with Anderson and then the Mexican brought another top stop from Howard with his first-time right-foot shot from a fine Rooney pass.
Their best chance of the half came moments before the whistle as Antonio Valencia outmuscled Leighton Baines down the right and fed Nani inside the box, the Portuguese winger's goal-bound shot hitting Hernandez - on the floor and trying to get out of the way - and flying wide.
Everton hauled off the ineffective Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Jermaine Beckford at the break and sent on Anichebe and Tim Cahill and they began to take the game to United, with Anichebe's penalty shout a huge moment in the game.
Moyes praises Everton defence in defeat
He did superbly well to roll Rio Ferdinand just inside the United half and he raced into the area down the left, going down under a challenge from Ferdinand as the defender chased him down only for referee Peter Walton to wave play on.
Edwin van der Sar had to be at his very best to fingertip away a low, deflected Jack Rodwell's shot halfway through the second half but from then on it was all United as they produced wave after wave of attack.
A Fabio cross from the right was sliced against his own post by Distin, before Rooney's top corner-bound 25-yard free-kick was pushed away by an alert Howard, who then superbly tipped over a Hernandez header from Valencia's right-wing centre.
But just as Everton must have thought they had clung on for a point, Hernandez popped up to capitalise on Distin's error and ensure the destiny of the title remains firmly in United's hands.
90:00+5:23 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
90:00+3:28 Free kick awarded for a foul by Wayne Rooney on Leighton Baines. Phil Neville crosses the ball in from the free kick.
90:00+1:43 A cross is delivered by Tony Hibbert, Tim Cahill takes a shot. Save by Edwin Van der Sar.
90:00+0:26 The ball is sent over by Phil Neville, Oliveira Anderson makes a clearance. Phil Jagielka takes a shot from just outside the
penalty area which clears the crossbar.
89:49 Leighton Baines sends in a cross, blocked by Michael Owen.
85:59 Magaye Gueye challenges Oliveira Anderson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Rio Ferdinand.
85:27 Ryan Giggs produces a cross, clearance by Leighton Baines.
83:03 Antonio Valencia sends in a cross,
83:00 The assist for the goal came from Antonio Valencia.
83:00 GOAL - Javier Hernandez:Man Utd 1 - 0 Everton Javier Hernandez grabs a headed goal from close range. Man Utd 1-0 Everton.
82:23 Victor Anichebe fouled by Jonathan Evans, the ref awards a free kick. Tony Hibbert takes the direct free kick.
81:38 Booking Tim Howard is cautioned by the ref for time wasting.
79:57 The ball is swung over by Patrice Evra, Antonio Valencia takes a shot. Blocked by Phil Jagielka. Javier Hernandez takes a
shot. Save made by Tim Howard. Short corner taken by Patrice Evra from the left by-line. Corner taken left-footed by Ryan
Giggs from the left by-line, Phil Jagielka makes a clearance.
78:04 Foul by Phil Jagielka on Javier Hernandez, free kick awarded. Shot comes in from Wayne Rooney from the free kick, save made
by Tim Howard. Ryan Giggs takes a short corner, Wayne Rooney has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area missing to
the wide left of the goal.
76:54 Wayne Rooney produces a cross.
76:23 Fabio Da Silva sends in a cross, Tim Howard makes a save.
76:08 Oliveira Anderson takes a shot. Antonio Valencia gets a block in.
75:24 Corner crossed in by Oliveira Anderson, clearance by Jack Rodwell.
73:45 Substitution Ryan Giggs replaces Darron Gibson.
73:22 Fabio Da Silva crosses the ball, Michael Owen produces a right-footed shot from close range and bounces off the post.
73:09 The ball is swung over by Patrice Evra, Sylvain Distin makes a clearance.
72:56 Centre by Fabio Da Silva, clearance by Sylvain Distin.
72:42 Oliveira Anderson sends in a cross, clearance made by Phil Jagielka.
71:38 The ball is sent over by Leighton Baines, Fabio Da Silva gets a block in.
71:23 The ball is delivered by Oliveira Anderson, clearance by Phil Jagielka.
69:50 The ball is delivered by Antonio Valencia, Seamus Coleman manages to make a clearance.
68:28 Jack Rodwell takes a shot. Edwin Van der Sar makes a save. Leon Osman delivers the ball in from the corner, save by Edwin
Van der Sar.
67:42 Leon Osman delivers the ball, clearance made by Jonathan Evans.
65:15 Effort from outside the penalty box by Oliveira Anderson goes wide right of the target.
64:14 Foul by Leon Osman on Oliveira Anderson, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Darron Gibson.
62:22 Substitution Michael Owen joins the action as a substitute, replacing Luis Nani.
61:55 Patrice Evra crosses the ball, clearance by Leon Osman.
60:51 The ball is swung over by Antonio Valencia.
60:36 The ball is crossed by Javier Hernandez, Sylvain Distin gets a block in. The ball is crossed by Javier Hernandez, clearance
by Leighton Baines.
59:28 The ball is sent over by Luis Nani, blocked by Tony Hibbert. Corner taken short by Luis Nani, Foul by Jonathan Evans on Sylvain
Distin, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Tim Howard.
58:47 Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Blocked by Phil Neville.
58:10 Antonio Valencia produces a cross, clearance made by Tony Hibbert. Shot by Darron Gibson. Blocked by Phil Jagielka. Inswinging
corner taken right-footed by Luis Nani from the left by-line to the near post, Tony Hibbert makes a clearance.
56:30 Tim Howard takes the free kick.
56:30 Substitution Patrice Evra replaces John O'Shea.
56:30 Javier Hernandez is caught offside.
54:43 Edwin Van der Sar takes the direct free kick.
54:43 Booking Tim Cahill shown a yellow card.
54:41 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tim Cahill on Rio Ferdinand.
53:49 Phil Jagielka restarts play with the free kick.
53:49 Booking Oliveira Anderson is booked.
53:46 Seamus Coleman fouled by Oliveira Anderson, the ref awards a free kick.
51:28 Foul by Victor Anichebe on Fabio Da Silva, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Rio Ferdinand.
50:20 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Seamus Coleman by Luis Nani. Free kick taken by Phil Jagielka. Seamus Coleman
has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
49:45 Centre by Tim Cahill, clearance made by Rio Ferdinand.
48:20 The ball is swung over by Fabio Da Silva, Seamus Coleman manages to make a clearance.
45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
45:01 Substitution Jermaine Beckford goes off and Victor Anichebe comes on.
45:01 Substitution Diniyar Bilyaletdinov leaves the field to be replaced by Tim Cahill.
Half Time
45:00+1:16 It is the end of the first-half.
45:00+0:08 Foul by Darron Gibson on Jack Rodwell, free kick awarded. Phil Neville takes the free kick.
43:55 The ball is delivered by Luis Nani, Phil Jagielka manages to make a clearance.
38:46 A cross is delivered by Wayne Rooney, Sylvain Distin gets a block in.
37:46 Javier Hernandez delivers the ball.
37:02 Luis Nani takes a shot. Blocked by Javier Hernandez.
36:22 Shot on goal by Wayne Rooney from long range goes harmlessly over the target.
35:43 Diniyar Bilyaletdinov produces a cross, Fabio Da Silva gets a block in.
34:34 The ball is crossed by Luis Nani, save by Tim Howard.
33:03 Javier Hernandez produces a cross, Sylvain Distin gets a block in. Corner from the right by-line taken by Oliveira Anderson,
A cross is delivered by Darron Gibson, Jack Rodwell manages to make a clearance.
32:27 The ball is crossed by John O'Shea, Sylvain Distin manages to make a clearance.
31:59 Luis Nani produces a cross, blocked by Phil Neville. Luis Nani delivers the ball in from the corner, clearance by Sylvain
Distin.
30:30 The ball is sent over by Luis Nani, blocked by Seamus Coleman. Corner taken by Luis Nani from the left by-line to the near
post, save made by Tim Howard. Long range effort from Darron Gibson misses to the left of the target.
30:20 Javier Hernandez takes a shot. Save by Tim Howard.
28:29 The assistant referee flags for offside against Javier Hernandez. Tim Howard restarts play with the free kick.
26:40 Darron Gibson produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.
25:41 Unfair challenge on Luis Nani by Seamus Coleman results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Oliveira Anderson.
24:29 Javier Hernandez takes a shot. Save by Tim Howard. Corner taken right-footed by Luis Nani from the left by-line, clearance
by Tony Hibbert.
23:39 Tony Hibbert sends in a cross, Rio Ferdinand manages to make a clearance.
21:14 The ball is sent over by Seamus Coleman, Jonathan Evans manages to make a clearance. Free kick awarded for a foul by Diniyar
Bilyaletdinov on Fabio Da Silva. Free kick taken by Edwin Van der Sar.
20:33 Javier Hernandez produces a cross, save made by Tim Howard.
18:54 Effort from the edge of the area by John O'Shea goes wide of the left-hand upright.
18:29 The ball is crossed by Wayne Rooney, Phil Jagielka manages to make a clearance.
17:23 Darron Gibson takes a shot. Phil Neville gets a block in.
16:07 A cross is delivered by Antonio Valencia, Leighton Baines gets a block in. Corner taken by Oliveira Anderson, Sylvain Distin
makes a clearance.
Correction - 14:09 John O'Shea delivers the ball, Tony Hibbert gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Luis Nani played to the
near post, John O'Shea has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.
14:09 John O'Shea produces a cross, blocked by Tony Hibbert. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Luis Nani from the left by-line
to the near post.
13:22 Fabio Da Silva challenges Leon Osman unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed by Leighton Baines, save made
by Edwin Van der Sar.
12:38 Luis Nani takes a shot. Tim Howard makes a save.
10:23 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Leon Osman by Fabio Da Silva. Free kick crossed left-footed by Leighton Baines,
Wayne Rooney makes a clearance.
9:36 A cross is delivered by Seamus Coleman, Edwin Van der Sar manages to make a clearance.
8:55 Rio Ferdinand gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jermaine Beckford. Direct free kick taken by Sylvain Distin.
7:34 Leon Osman takes a shot. Comfortable save by Edwin Van der Sar.
5:41 Free kick awarded for a foul by Rio Ferdinand on Jermaine Beckford. Free kick crossed by Leighton Baines, Darron Gibson makes
a clearance.
5:02 Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Blocked by Seamus Coleman. Corner taken right-footed by Luis Nani from the left by-line to the
near post, save by Tim Howard.
4:13 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tony Hibbert on Luis Nani. Luis Nani takes the free kick.
2:58 Centre by Antonio Valencia.
1:42 Free kick awarded for a foul by Seamus Coleman on Luis Nani. Luis Nani crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from
left wing, clearance made by Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.
0:00 The match gets underway.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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