Manchester United 3 Everton 0: Michael Owen must take chances or miss World Cup bus

Normal service was resumed at Old Trafford, but not before Sir Alex Ferguson had likened Manchester United’s unhealthy knack of wasting chances this season to missing a bus.

‘Whether the players feel they make so many opportunities in the game that they can afford to wait — not to worry because there will be another along in a minute — I’m not sure,’ he wrote.

A few pages further on in the match programme, Michael Owen was leaving himself little room for excuses as he discussed his strike rate for United.

Another one goes begging: Owen beats Sylvain Distain, but his shot goes wide of Tim Howard's goal

‘I never doubted I’d score goals if I stayed fit and was given time on the pitch — how can you fail to score goals in a team like this?’ said Owen, before making the distinction between games played and minutes played.

‘You can twist stats any way you want. A goal every one-and-a-half games sounds good, but four in 16 games isn’t quite so impressive.’

Make that 17 games. While Darren Fletcher’s sublime strike and goals from elsewhere in midfield by Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia were lightening their manager’s mood, they also obscured Owen’s worrying failure to find the net.

Just how many chances can pass him by, how many of those buses can come and go, before Fabio Capello decides once and for all not to invite Owen aboard for England’s World Cup journey to South Africa next summer?

The ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid striker may have earned himself a place in the hearts of United fans with that memorable winner in the Manchester derby two months ago, but he has not scored in the Premier League since.

No-one would argue that Owen’s opportunities have been limited since Ferguson made him the surprise signing of the summer, and it would only be fair to point out that he marked his previous starts against Barnsley and CSKA Moscow with the third and fourth goals of his Old Trafford career.

But given a rare Premier League opportunity in the absence of Dimitar Berbatov, he was handed three clear chances to score a decisive second goal on Saturday and came up empty-handed.

They were exactly the kind of chances to which Ferguson was referring. The kind he knows will have to be taken if United are to overhaul Chelsea in the title race.

‘You have to look at every game as must-win now,’ said the United boss. ‘What we want to do is get round about the top of the league by New Year’s Day and we’ll have a real go and a real chance, as it always proves, in the second half of the season.’

The good news for Ferguson and Owen is that United could hardly wish for a better run of games between now and when they go to Arsenal on January 31 to put the pressure on Chelsea.

United discarded their shaky form at Old Trafford with a biggest home victory of the season. It owed much to Fletcher’s opening goal, a magnificent volley that ridiculed the notion (if indeed it still exists) that he is all fight and no finesse.

‘It was a stunning volley,’ said Carrick. ‘I thought it was going to be a bit too high but he got his shoulder over it and his technique was spot on. Without a doubt he’s playing as well as I’ve seen him. His performances are at the highest level now and he’s one of the best midfielders around. It’s nice for the midfield to chip in and help the strikers out. You can’t rely on the front two to do it every week.’

Crisp technique: Fletcher scored with this stunning volley for the Scot's third of the season

Not that United were short of fight. Against Everton that is a basic requirement and the four stitches next to John Heitinga’s right eye were a lasting reminder of his encounter with Nemanja Vidic’s elbow.

‘Vidic said sorry but I don’t think it was deliberate,’ said Heitinga. ‘That’s football, it can happen. I care more about the result because we need the points.’

Controlled: Carrick added a second with a crisp finish

While it is unlikely Everton fans will have expected to come away from a ground where they last won in 1992 with anything but a defeat, the next six days offer more realistic
hope of picking up points.

David Moyes takes his team to Hull on Wednesday before they face Liverpool in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park next weekend, but the Everton boss has warned his players that they have to improve.

‘I’ll protect them all day long, but they have to stand up and be counted as well,’ said Moyes, who admitted the lack of competition for places among his injury-hit squad is a major factor. We’re not performing like a team that should be in the top quadrant of the
Premier League right now.’

Triple crown: Antonio Valencia wraps up the win

MAN UTD (4-4-2): Van der Sar 6; Rafael 5 (Scholes 63min. 6), Brown 6, Vidic 5, Evra 8; Valencia 7, Fletcher 8, Carrick 6 (Gibson 83), Giggs 7; Rooney 6 (Obertan 74, 6), Owen 5. Booked: Rafael, Carrick

EVERTON (4-5-1): Howard 6; Neill 5, Distin 7, Yobo 5, Baines 7; Gosling 5 (Yakubu 46, 7), Heitinga 5, Fellaini 5, Rodwell 6, Cahill 5 (Jo 82); Saha 6 (Hibbert 83). Booked: Cahill, Fellaini

Man of the match: Darren Fletcher

Referee: Steve Bennett