Edwin van der Sar set a new Football League record as Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty earned Manchester United a 1-0 win over Everton.
Ronaldo's spot-kick late in the first half, after Michael Carrick had been felled, enabled United to open up a five-point gap at the top of the table.
And a further cause of cheer for the reigning champions was a 12th consecutive Premier League clean sheet for United keeper Van der Sar, which broke a record which had stood for 30 years.
Former United keeper Tim Howard showed smart reflexes after just 13 minutes as he stuck out a foot to turn Carlos Tevez's shot over the bar.
The post came to Everton's rescue on 26 minutes as Ronaldo's toe-poke came back off the upright and Tevez was offside as he tried to tuck home the rebound.
The breakthrough arrived a minute before half-time when a piece of skill from Carrick lulled Mikel Arteta into tripping the England midfielder just inside the box and Ronaldo stepped up to stroke home the penalty.
Carrick had a claim for another penalty early in the second half turned down by referee Mark Halsey after a challenge by Joleon Lescott, while the Everton defender pleaded for a late spot-kick after tussling with Rio Ferdinand.
The pattern of play was established as early as the fourth minute when Marouane Fellaini's foul on Carrick gave Ronaldo a chance to go for goal from 30 yards but he drilled his effort straight into the wall.
Highlight:
Man Utd v Everton
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