United 2 Everton 1

IT was party time again for United - but this time the Old Trafford headlines were of the back page variety and something to be proud of.

The Reds were under the microscope after the lurid stories that followed the Christmas bash that sullied the club's great name.

Having collectively let down United and Sir Alex Ferguson there was a new kind of pressure for the Reds to tackle.

Ironically, it was Cristiano Ronaldo, the one man who avoided the blanket condemnation after the festive antics, who was the match winner.