United move a step closer to title

Manchester United produced a stunning recovery to secure a 4-2 win at Everton which moved them five points clear at the top of the Barclays Premiership table.

Everton had been outstanding for an hour and led 2-0 with goals from Alan Stubbs and Manuel Fernandes - but the tide turned and United roared back.

Rookie goalkeeper Iain Turner dropped a corner for John O'Shea to score before former United man Phil Neville - now Everton's captain - stabbed home an own goal. Wayne Rooney gave United the lead against his former club, and substitute Chris Eagles added a fourth in injury time.

Defender Stubbs broke the deadlock in the 12th minute with a free-kick which Edwin van der Sar could not keep out after it had flicked off Michael Carrick.

United threatened more after half-time, but Fernandes doubled Everton's lead in the 50th minute with a thunderous effort after he had collected Mikel Arteta's pass.

However, hope came quickly for United after Turner inexplicably dropped Ryan Giggs' corner at O'Shea's feet, allowing the Irishman to bundle home.

And United were soon level when Neville, who in 11 hugely successful years at Old Trafford scored only five times in 263 league appearances, put through his own goal.

Again Turner was involved, although he could not do much more than get in the way of Cristiano Ronaldo's firm header as he rose to meet Carrick's corner.

The ball bobbled around in the Everton six-yard box before Neville, on the goalline, thrashed it into his own net in a desperate attempt to clear.

Rooney netted the third - and potential title-clincher - when he stepped inside Tony Hibbert and found the bottom corner with his low shot. Eagles added another after Rooney had supplied the pass.