MANCHESTER UNITED rode their luck until the final minutes at Goodison Park on Sunday, but their good fortune expired when substitute Marouane Fellaini handed a point to his former club.

The visitors took lead in the first half through the impressive Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but Everton’s fightback in the second period was rewarded when Fellaini fouled Idrissa Gueye in the box, and Leighton Baines tucked away the penalty.

United centre back Marcos Rojo was lucky not to be given a red card for a shocking two-footed lunge on Gueye, while Ibrahimovic left a boot in on Seamus Coleman when the two tangled on the floor in the second half.

Only the Swede will know whether the action was intentional and, while he may be given the benefit of the doubt, there was no question that Rojo’s dangerous challenge should have seen him sent off.

Jose Mourinho, channeling Arsene Wenger, says he didn’t see either the penalty incident or Rojo’s challenge, but was pleased with his side’s performance. “It was a good solid performance,” he said. “We are leaving the stadium with the feeling that we deserve more.”

Ibrahimovic was the stand out player on the day and his chip over Maarten Stekelenburg eventually nestled in the goal to give his side the lead. Anthony Martial’s long pass put the No 9 through and his lofted effort lingered on the line, hitting bar and post before spinning over the whitewash.

Everton were fighting a losing battle. Kevin Mirallas was their liveliest player, and he would have equalised but for David De Gea’s expert positioning in the United goal. Mirallas’s shot was well hit but the Spaniard’s fine save saw the ball deflect over.

The introduction of Gerard Deulofeu gave the Toffees a different dimension, as he often does when he comes off the bench. His free-kick was headed by substitute Mason Holgate, forcing another save from De Gea who tipped over. The United keeper also made saves from Gueye and Enner Valencia before finally being beaten from 12 yards by Baines.

“We were the most dangerous team in the second half,” said Everton manager Ronald Koeman. “We kept belief in our team and finally got the penalty.”

Both teams tried to win the game in the five minutes of added time, but ended up taking a point each which does neither a favour in their quest for a European spot.