Man U's big slip - TODAYonline

English Premier League

Man United 4 Everton 4

MANCHESTER - Alex Ferguson was left fuming at the end of Manchester United's dramatic encounter with Everton yesterday, that saw the league leaders slip up in the title race as they were held 4-4 at Old Trafford.

It was almost beyond credulity that United could be guilty of such carelessness.

Ferguson's team led 4-2 with seven minutes to play, the crowd were going through their victory songs and we were looking at the possibility of the championship being settled at, of all places, Manchester City a week on Monday.

"It's a throwaway, an absolute giveaway," Ferguson said. "We just needed to see the game out and it's a travesty because some of our football was fantastic."

The result left United six points clear at the top of the Premier League, with second-place Manchester City visiting Wolves later in the day.

A win for City against Wolves would re-ignite the title race ahead of the crosstown rivals' clash at City's Etihad Stadium the following Monday night.

"We've given them (City) the initiative, no question about that," said Ferguson, who blamed uncharacteristic defensive lapses for the dropped points.

"It makes the game at the Etihad a really important one - it makes it the decider, really."

Everton manager David Moyes was delighted with the spirit his side showed.

"Absolutely brilliant," he said. "The players didn't half put a show on today, they really did.

"We lost a big game last week and today was a chance in front of the telly and playing another big game to stop people thinking that our season is over," Moyes added.

Everton, looking to recover from the disappointment of losing to crosstown rival Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals a week ago, started brightly, with Marouane Fellaini stationed behind Nikica Jelavic to pressure the United midfield.

Everton deservedly took the lead when Tony Hibbert swung a deep cross into the box from the right. Jelavic looped a header over David De Gea and into the far corner for his seventh goal since joining Everton in January.

United had a penalty appeal turned down when Leon Osman seemed to clip Rafael Da Silva in the 38th minute, but they finally levelled when Nani stepped inside his marker and centred for Wayne Rooney to head home from close range.

United looked more comfortable after the break and went in front when Danny Welbeck stepped inside John Heitinga and curled his shot into the top corner from the edge of the box in the 57th.

Nani added the third goal three minutes later, when slick interplay with Welbeck and Michael Carrick released him to lift a delicate finish over Everton goalie Tim Howard.

The game looked all but won, but Everton simply refused to surrender. Fellaini soon reduced the deficit with a neat volley from Hibbert's cross.

Rooney notched his second just two minutes later, sweeping into the net from Welbeck's pass for his 26th league goal this season, taking him past former greats George Best and Dennis Viollet on the club's all-time list.

At 4-2, United looked in total command of the game until Everton's in-form hitman Jelavic scored his brace after capitalising on confusion between Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand to slam the ball past De Gea.

With the clock ticking down, Steven Pienaar completed the astounding comeback with a close-range finish from Fellaini's pass.

By failing to hold on to the three points, United must now avoid defeat at City on April 30 to avoid their neighbours claiming the initiative - if Roberto Mancini's team win at Wolves. AGENCIES