Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko once again proved to be a crucial asset for Michael Carrick, stepping off the bench to net the sole goal in a 1-0 triumph over Everton, marking his third decisive contribution in four matches.
The Slovenian striker has yet to start under the interim head coach’s six matches, but he has now delivered two winning goals and a late equalizer, helping Carrick maintain his unbeaten streak.
Sesko made his entrance just before the hour mark, taking over from Amad Diallo, and within 13 minutes, he made his presence felt by converting a goal from a sharp counter-attack, which was a rare moment of quality from United.
This victory represented United’s fifth in six games, pushing them into fourth place, just three points behind Aston Villa.
He finished his chance coolly, seizing on United’s first genuine opportunity since the fourth minute when James Tarkowski cleared a shot from Diallo off the line after it slipped past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
His goal in the 71st minute was relatively early compared to his previous two goals during Carrick’s unbeaten run, both of which came after the 90-minute mark—one against Fulham and another to equalize against West Ham.
Sesko has now scored six goals in his last seven appearances, making it hard for Carrick to overlook his vital role in the team’s revival, which has only bolstered the head coach’s credentials since taking over from Ruben Amorim in January.
The goal was initiated by Matheus Cunha’s precise pass from deep in his own half, setting up Bryan Mbeumo for a one-on-one against Michael Keane. Mbeumo used his pace to get past Keane and squared the ball for Sesko to finish confidently.
This goal arrived during Everton’s best spell of the game, as they made several attempts to threaten after the break. Earlier, they had only managed to compete without posing a real threat.
Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall shifted the ball from right to left, but Harrison Armstrong failed to capitalize with a weak shot that did not trouble Senne Lammens.
Mbeumo missed the target after Tarkowski struggled to handle Kobbie Mainoo’s cross, marking one of the few notable attacks from the visitors. Meanwhile, United captain Bruno Fernandes found himself in a disagreement with the 19-year-old Armstrong, highlighting United’s frustrations.
Ultimately, Sesko’s entry altered the game’s dynamic, and Everton’s closest effort to equalize came when Keane forced Lammens into a fingertip save from long range, securing United’s first away clean sheet in the league since March.
This win compensated for a lackluster first half in which United dominated but failed to capitalize on their chances.
United struggled to threaten a backline that featured midfielder James Garner at right-back and centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite on the left.
Diogo Dalot’s attempt from a partially cleared corner narrowly missed Pickford’s left post, and Fernandes shot over at the end of the half, but there was little indication that they would find the breakthrough until Sesko arrived once more to seal the victory.
This defeat dealt a significant blow to Everton’s aspirations for European qualification, leaving them in ninth place, trailing behind Brentford and Bournemouth, with an eight-point gap to Chelsea and Liverpool.
David Moyes and his squad are now winless in their last seven encounters at the newly named Hill Dickinson Stadium.