Manchester United vs. Everton: Final score 1-0, Toffees stun United at Old Trafford

David Moyes’ reunion with Everton didn’t go to plan. The Toffees hadn’t won an away league game against Manchester United for more than two decades, but they put one over their old manager with a smash-and-grab performance, scoring late through backup left back Bryan Oviedo, who was only on the pitch because Leighton Baines is injured..

Neither side scored in the first half, although it wasn’t for lack of trying. Ageless wonder Ryan Giggs came within inches when his glancing header shaved Tim Howard’s far post, and Wayne Rooney was even closer with a deflected effort that beat the keeper, thumped off the woodwork, and was eventually poked to safety before Shinji Kagawa could slot home.

Meanwhile, Everton were doing their best to ruin their old manager’s day. Most of their industry came through Romelu Lukaku, who seemed to take Nemanja Vidic’s reputation as an indestructible robot as a personal affront, repeatedly tormenting the Serbian centerback, but failing to come up with anything like an end product after going through him.

The second half was also full of chances. Patrice Evra got things started with a vicious strike which forced Howard into a slightly dazed punch, and the left back drew an even better save later on when he got free on a corner, with Danny Welbeck hitting the bar on the rebound.

Ex-Everton man Marouane Fellaini left his mark on the match when he implanted his studs into the unfortunate posterior of James McCarthy. But Fellaini might have been better off focusing on his defensive duties -- with five minutes to go, he stood off Lukaku, allowing his compatriot to pick out Oviedo at the far post for the game’s first and only goal.

There was no response from Moyes and company, and Manchester United are now 12 points behind in the title race.

Goals: Oviedo 85’.