Martial has been worth every penny

How did Anthony Martial snatch victory at the death for Man Utd in their 2-1 win over Everton? And what now for Roberto Martinez? The Daily Telegraph gives us its take on their FA Cup semi-final match.

MARTIAL PROVING MONEY WELL SPENT

How Muhamed Besic must be cursing Roberto Martinez’s decision to deploy him as a makeshift right-back in the absence of Seamus Coleman, although Anthony Martial would have been a handful for any defender.

There was a nonchalant ease with which the United forward glided past Besic before teeing up Marouane Fellaini for the opening goal, but then the best players make everything look effortless.

Martial could end up costing £61.1 million (S$119.2 million) if all the triggers in his contract are met, but on the evidence of what supporters have seen this season, in a team that have been largely underwhelming, it will prove money well spent.

IS THIS THE SECOND COMING OF ROONEY?

It might be a little premature to start writing his obituaries as a striker, and Crystal Palace and Everton have hardly been the most taxing of opponents, but the United and England captain looked most at home in a roaming midfield role.

He was here, there and everywhere against Everton, pinging around passes, snapping at heels, and given how much better United look for the pace of Marcus Rashford up front, is the time approaching where much more serious consideration should be given to a sustained run for Rooney in a much deeper role?

England manager Roy Hodgson, who was there to watch this, has certainly been given some food for thought.

LUKAKU IS PROFLIGATE ... BUT A HANDFUL

When your luck is out, it is out, and Martinez could have been forgiven for thinking this was not going to be his day when Romelu Lukaku twice took heavy, clunky touches within the space of 10 first-half minutes when he should have been clean through to score.

So, when the Everton striker stepped up to take a penalty shortly before the hour mark, Martinez might have had a hunch things would not go quite to plan. Lukaku duly missed, even if David De Gea’s save was outstanding.

Credit to Lukaku and Everton for not letting their heads drop and ultimately forcing an equaliser, with the big Belgian playing his part in it.

MAN OF THE MATCH: ANTHONY MARTIAL

There were numerous United contenders for man of the match in the first half — and Everton after the interval — but Martial was the outstanding performer throughout, terrorising Muhamed Besic in the opening 45 minutes and then continuing to offer a threat, even when Everton had United’s backs to the wall.

At times, he seemed to be waging a one-man mission to drag United back in front and then, with a minute left, the Frenchman produced a moment of brilliance to claim the winning goal.

WHAT UNITED NEED

TO WORK ON

How many times have United led this season, looked relatively comfortable, and then retreated, gripped by nerves? There have been many failings under Van Gaal, but the lack of ruthlessness in this team is pronounced.

Too often they are guilty of not creating enough, but they had a plethora of chances here to put the game to bed long before Chris Smalling turned the ball into his own net. Jesse Lingard, for one, could easily have had a hat-trick.

WHAT EVERTON NEED

TO WORK ON

For 45 minutes, it was easy to see why Everton have struggled this season. With the exception of the Premier League’s bottom four, only two teams have conceded more than the Merseyside club in the top flight this term.

Defensively, they were in disarray, routinely terrified by the pace of Martial and Rashford. They regrouped impressively in the second half but then, just when it mattered most, their concentration lapsed.