WHEN Michael Carrick charged down Mikel Arteta’s drive with four minutes left the United fans cheered as if it had been a jink by Cristiano Ronaldo or a goal from Eric Cantona. Old Trafford, down the decades, has savoured attacking football but denizens have recently become connoisseurs of defensive delicacies.

Manchester United’s thirst for clean sheets is still not slaked. After a 12th consecutive shut-out in the Premier League, they sit in a high chair at the head of the table. Sir Alex Ferguson may be the new George Graham and “1-0 to United” set for the same iconic status as that scoreline once was for Arsenal. This was their seventh such scoreline in 10 league games, thanks to a penalty from Ronaldo just before half-time, but the victory was more comfortable than those bald facts make it sound. Everton, after recent exertions, were too tired to push United to anything like the same extent as they did Arsenal and Liverpool in their previous games.

In helping his side to a five-point lead in the Premier League, and protecting his goal successfully yet again, Edwin van der Sar set another record, having now gone longer unbeaten in the league than any goalkeeper in English football. There were few dramas on the way to making history: of the 1,122 minutes since the Dutchman last conceded, these 90 were among his most tranquil. Everton will hope to have more energy when they face Liverpool in Wednesday’s FA Cup replay and United’s thoughts are also turning to Liverpool — and their rivals’ meeting with Chelsea today.

“A draw is the best result but one (side) is going to drop points or two are. That is what’s most important,” Ronaldo beamed. The Portuguese now has 14 goals for the season, even though he is still to reach peak form, something that mirrors how his team have accrued a decent lead in the title race despite operating below their best for much of the campaign. “United made me drool,” said David Moyes but he was surely being flattering of the man he so admires, Ferguson.

The home side were good but not brilliant, inspired by Carrick and Carlos Tevez to go forward with real gusto for an hour but waning in intensity thereafter. “The name of football is to kill off teams,” admonished Ferguson, but he was happy for Van der Sar. “The main credit (for the record) goes to Edwin for the composure he brings. We’ve had to change the back four and there have been some great performances, (Nemanja) Vidic is an absolute warrior, but all the defenders have done well.”

The Neville brothers, as respective captains, shook hands before kick-off and both sets of supporters joined a chorus of “Rafa’s cracking up.” By half-time, however, Blues and Reds were falling out after Everton questioned United’s right to a penalty. Carrick collected a Tevez flick and, rolling the sole of his boot over the ball to caress it past Arteta, breached Everton’s box. Arteta stuck his leg out behind him and tripped his opponent, who stayed on his feet for a few strides before falling just as Tony Hibbert seemed set to make a tackle.

Mark Halsey, well positioned, pointed to the spot and it seemed a sound if unusual decision. Players are criticised for going down too easily and had Carrick simply toppled when clipped there would have been less debate. Surely Carrick did not deserve to be penalised for trying to remain upright.

Ronaldo took one of his stop-start run-ups, allowed Tim Howard to commit himself, and placed his penalty into the centre of the goal.

Carrick was central to another refereeing drama when, taking a pass from John O’Shea, he drove toward the byline and went down under Joleon Lescott’s challenge. It was a borderline call but you suspect Halsey might have given it had he not already given United a penalty.

Carrick, making another penetrating dribble, was hatcheted by Steven Pienaar and Tevez’s free kick looped off the wall, forcing Howard to pedal backwards and tip over. But the goalkeeping garlands belonged to Van der Sar, now just 75 minutes from beating the British record Chris Woods — now Everton’s goalkeeping coach — set at Rangers in 1986-87.

Everton, forced to use more or less the same 11 players since early December because of their limited squad numbers,continued to make little impression on United. Arteta struck a low shot cleanly but it was from too far out to cause trouble and Pienaar blasted into the stand when set up by Tim Cahill. Park Ji Sung almost beat Howard early on and soon after set up Tevez, whose drive from eight yards out prompted an excellent Howard block.

Tevez was a little red flame, licking like wildfire through the Everton defence, pressuring their defence with a lovely chip at the end of bucaneering run. Hibbert cleared and minutes later, having just hit the post, Ronaldo forced a fingertip save from Howard with a lob.

Carrick, just before winning the penalty, flashed a left-foot volley past Howard but it struck the side netting.

MANCHESTER UTD: Van der Sar 6, G Neville 5 (Brown 56min, 6), Ferdinand 7, Vidic 7, O'Shea 7, Ronaldo 7, Carrick 8, Fletcher 6 (Giggs 75min), Park 7, Berbatov 6, Tevez 7

EVERTON: Howard 8, Hibbert 7, Jagielka 7, Lescott 7, Baines 6, Osman 5, Arteta 5, P Neville 6, Pienaar 6, Fellaini 5 (Anichebe 68min), Cahill 6