Former love breaks Moyes’ heart
6 Dec 2013 6:30 AM IST
Wednesday’s result left United 12 points adrift of leaders Arsenal and was the first time Everton, whom Moyes left at the end of last season to replace the retired Alex Ferguson, had won at Old Trafford since 1992.
Moyes endured a miserable evening, which began with him being jeered by his former supporters.
United went close to taking the lead when Wayne Rooney’s deflected shot came back off the post in the opening period before Danny Welbeck headed on to the bar from close range in the second half.
But Costa Rican Oviedo, signed by Moyes in 2012, turned in from close range to secure Everton’s win with five minutes left.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez had promised that the Blues would show that they are shedding a supposed inferiority complex against the Premier League’s top sides and from the start they were keen to prove his point. Romelu Lukaku caused early panic in the United defence as the hosts scrambled to clear a cross from Kevin Mirallas under pressure from the striker.
United’s defence, with Chris Smalling playing alongside Vidic at centre-back, struggled to get the ball away from the Steven Pienaar corner that followed before David de Gea was forced to tip over a powerful Mirallas shot.
The home side finally played their way into the match and a spell of pressure resulted in the ball falling for former Everton forward Rooney, whose drive was turned away by Tim Howard. Former United goalkeeper Howard impressed again when he pushed away Kagawa’s close-range effort.
And United went even closer to a goal when Antonio Valencia found space down the right and clipped over a cross that was glanced just wide by Ryan Giggs, playing for the first time since turning 40 last week. Howard was beaten when Giggs picked out Rooney and the England striker’s shot deflected off Sylvain Distin but the ball came back off the inside of the post. Evra was in determined mood and broke beyond Mirallas to see a firm shot pushed away by Howard shortly after the interval.
After being fortunate not to be sent off in the 2-2 draw at Cardiff last month, Rooney once again allowed his frustration to get the better of him, missing with an attempt to kick Phil Jagielka and earning a yellow card.
Everton substitute Gerard Deulofeu was played in by Lukaku but could only come up with a disappointing shot straight at de Gea.
Mirallas came close with his free kick that hit the post before Ovideo struck to seal the match.
Moyes bullish as United’s hopes fade
MANCHESTER: The Old Trafford side suffered a fourth defeat of the season when they were stunned 1-0 at home by his former club Everton on Wednesday.
The champions are now ninth in the table and are as close to the relegation zone as they are to the summit.
United only lost five league games in the whole of last season, but even though Moyes accepts it will be a struggle, he insists his team should not be ruled out. ‘We have got a long way to go,’ he said. ‘We will need to play some great football and win an awful lot of games in the run-in if we are going to be in there and around it at the end of the season.’
Moyes endured a miserable evening, which began with him being jeered by his former supporters.
United went close to taking the lead when Wayne Rooney’s deflected shot came back off the post in the opening period before Danny Welbeck headed on to the bar from close range in the second half.
But Costa Rican Oviedo, signed by Moyes in 2012, turned in from close range to secure Everton’s win with five minutes left.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez had promised that the Blues would show that they are shedding a supposed inferiority complex against the Premier League’s top sides and from the start they were keen to prove his point. Romelu Lukaku caused early panic in the United defence as the hosts scrambled to clear a cross from Kevin Mirallas under pressure from the striker.
United’s defence, with Chris Smalling playing alongside Vidic at centre-back, struggled to get the ball away from the Steven Pienaar corner that followed before David de Gea was forced to tip over a powerful Mirallas shot.
The home side finally played their way into the match and a spell of pressure resulted in the ball falling for former Everton forward Rooney, whose drive was turned away by Tim Howard. Former United goalkeeper Howard impressed again when he pushed away Kagawa’s close-range effort.
And United went even closer to a goal when Antonio Valencia found space down the right and clipped over a cross that was glanced just wide by Ryan Giggs, playing for the first time since turning 40 last week. Howard was beaten when Giggs picked out Rooney and the England striker’s shot deflected off Sylvain Distin but the ball came back off the inside of the post. Evra was in determined mood and broke beyond Mirallas to see a firm shot pushed away by Howard shortly after the interval.
After being fortunate not to be sent off in the 2-2 draw at Cardiff last month, Rooney once again allowed his frustration to get the better of him, missing with an attempt to kick Phil Jagielka and earning a yellow card.
Everton substitute Gerard Deulofeu was played in by Lukaku but could only come up with a disappointing shot straight at de Gea.
Mirallas came close with his free kick that hit the post before Ovideo struck to seal the match.
Moyes bullish as United’s hopes fade
MANCHESTER: The Old Trafford side suffered a fourth defeat of the season when they were stunned 1-0 at home by his former club Everton on Wednesday.
The champions are now ninth in the table and are as close to the relegation zone as they are to the summit.
United only lost five league games in the whole of last season, but even though Moyes accepts it will be a struggle, he insists his team should not be ruled out. ‘We have got a long way to go,’ he said. ‘We will need to play some great football and win an awful lot of games in the run-in if we are going to be in there and around it at the end of the season.’
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