Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United star goal is the first of many after drought

Wayne Rooney scored his first goal at Goodison Park for eight years

It was almost a fitting tribute to the late, great Howard Kendall. Almost.

 

A lifelong Evertonian raced away to score and clinch a convincing win. Except that, while Wayne Rooney supports the club Kendall graced for seven years as a player and in three spells as a manager, he was sealing Manchester United’s victory.

Rooney was born in 1985, months after Kendall won the first of his two league titles in charge. Now, as Everton were bested by a coach with seven to his name, they seem distant days. 

Louis van Gaal has been a champion in Holland, Spain and Germany. More results like this and he will be in England, too. Because everything Van Gaal tried worked.

He brought Morgan Schneiderlin back into his United team. He scored. He restored Ander Herrera to the side. He scored, too. He recalled Marcos Rojo. He set up Herrera’s goal. He gave Phil Jones a first start of the season and United kept a clean sheet. 

And above all, the much-criticised Rooney rewarded his manager with his first Goodison Park goal since 2007.

“My lack of goals here has disappointed me but thankfully I've scored today,” he said. 

Boss Van Gaal was less worried by his drought: “For me it is not important if he scores or not scores. But maybe it is the start of many goals.”

The start for Rooney was the end of Everton’s golden Goodison run against United. They had won their last three home games, against three different United managers and without conceding a goal.

 

Van Gaal brought that to an abrupt halt. His United were shambolic when they went three goals down inside 20 minutes at Arsenal.

They were superb as they were two goals to the good after a quarter of the game at Goodison. 

“It is an understatement to call it a response,” the Dutchman said. His changes had an immediate impact as Everton started sloppily.

Both early goals were defensive disasters. Steven Naismith had two attempts to clear Juan Mata’s cross and failed on both occasions.

Herrera hooked the ball back in and it bounced off Chris Smalling for Schneiderlin to steer at shot past Tim Howard, who dived the wrong way.

It was United’s first goal at Goodison since 2011. They did not have to wait long for a second. Rojo raced away on the left and whipped in the most inviting of crosses.

 

Morgan Schneiderlin scored his first goal for Manchester United against Everton

The unmarked Herrera flung himself forward to head in. Rojo had missed United’s last four games, Herrera the previous three. Both marked his comeback in style.

“I have to mention Ander Herrera,” purred Van Gaal. “When Herrera is playing like that it is difficult to not select him. He played very well and had a great contribution with the goals.” 

After Anthony Martial squandered a glorious chance, Herrera set up the third. He sent Rooney sprinting clear to beat Howard and end an 11-month wait for a Premier League away goal. It was his 187th strike in the division, taking him level with Andy Cole. Only Alan Shearer has more and Rooney should have made it 188. Instead, Howard saved.

“I'll always keep trying to score,” vowed Rooney. Everton only threatened a goal just after half-time when David de Gea was at full stretch to tip away Romelu Lukaku’s low shot and then Ross Barkley’s curling free kick.

“It was a very good performance and I have said to my players that I was very proud of them because it is one of our best matches,” added Van Gaal. It was one of Everton’s worst, just when they hoped to provide a fitting send-off to Kendall. “Very uncharacteristic,” said manager Roberto Martinez.

“It was the worst news and everyone was really sad,” added Martinez. “Howard was such an iconic footballer and will always be an inspiration with what he achieved as a manager.”