Falcao, De Gea rescue Man U

Radamel Falcao’s first goal for Manchester United earned them all three points, but it was goalkeeper David de Gea who was the real hero.
It was the first time Louis van Gaal has celebrated back-to-back wins since taking charge at Old Trafford in the summer, and the three points lifted his side into the top four of the Premier League for the first time this season.
Falcao had sent a couple of efforts wide earlier in the game before he reacted first and fastest to turn Angel di Maria’s mis-hit shot past a helpless Tim Howard in the Everton goal.
That restored the hosts’ advantage and settled the nerves after the Merseysiders had fought their way back into the game.
Falcao’s early header was comfortably saved by Howard and Robin van Persie, captain for the day in place of the suspended Wayne Rooney, volleyed over at the near post from Di Maria’s cross.
Midway through the first half, however, it was the Argentine who opened the scoring.
Rafael’s cross was only half cleared to Juan Mata, and the Spaniard rolled the ball into the path of Di Maria who finished unerringly into the far corner of the net.
Everton continued to huff and puff without being able to create any clear cut opportunities, but they were handed a potential lifeline two minutes into injury time at the end of the first half.
Referee Kevin Friend had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot after Tony Hibbert was tripped by Luke Shaw but Leighton Baines, usually so deadly from 12 yards, saw his spot-kick saved by David de Gea.
And ten minutes after the re-start they were on level terms. Baines played a neat free-kick routine with Gareth Barry and, when the ball as played back to him, he delivered a pinpoint cross for Steven Naismith to power home his header from close range.
They held the lead for only seven minutes before Falcao’s first goal in England, but still the refused to lie down and accept their fate.
And they almost grabbed a second equaliser in the final minutes, but they couldn’t find a way past De Gea.
Firstly, he made a superb save to deny Leon Osman in the final minute of normal time before surpassing even that with a quite magnificent one-handed stop to turn Bryan Oviedo’s volley over the bar.
Everton will feel hard done by at leaving Old Trafford empty-handed, but Van Gaal won’t care about that as he begins to steer his side into more familiar territory in the higher echelons of the Premier League.