Match Report: Manchester United vs Everton 04/12/2013

Ovie-doh! Manchester United suffer first defeat in 13 games against Moyes' old boys Everton as Bryan Oviedo snatches late winner. 

Manchester United hosted Everton at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening. It was a welcome return to the Theatre of Dreams for David Moyes' men after an international break and three consecutive away games. Both teams were in form, United unbeaten in twelve games and Everton fifth in the League after an impressive 4-0 win over Stoke. United were in desperate need of a win though, after drawing their last two games 2-2 away at Swansea and Spurs respectively.

Robin Van Persie was still sidelined for the Champions with a groin problem and Phil Jones was unavailable due to suspension. This meant that Marouane Fellaini returned to the line-up to face his former team for the first time, much like United boss David Moyes. Meanwhile United target Leighton Baines was ruled out for the away side with an ankle problem and Arouna Kone and former red Darron Gibson missed out due to knee injuries.

There was a minute's applause before the match began in honour of Busby Babe Bill Foulkes who passed away last week at the age of 81. The big centre-back made 688 appearances for United, only Paul Scholes, Sir Bobby Charlton and Ryan Giggs have played more games for the club. 

It was Roberto Martinez's Everton that looked the livelier of the two sides in the early stages, keeping possession as if they were the home team. Lukaku looked up for the challenge in his battle with Vidic and United were never allowed time on the ball. Inside 8 minutes Everton created the game's first good chance through Mirallas. They had kept possession well in midfield through Barry and McCarthy and the latter sent a good pass out to Mirallas who ran inside from the left wing, got ahead of Rafael and unleashed a shot that stung the hands of De Gea as he punched it over the bar with both fists.

United finally started to get a foothold in the game and on 15 minutes former Everton man Rooney had a shot well saved by Howard after Evra had stolen the ball off Mirallas near the corner flag and passed to Rooney in the box. He then turned and found space to get a decent shot away but Howard was alert to the danger and got up well to make the save. United then began to look the dominant side as Rooney was involved again with a lovely touch out wide to Rafael. Rafael crossed the ball first time for Giggs in the box who made contact with a looping header but it went just wide of Howard's right hand post.

United's clear player of the season thus far Rooney was then terribly unlucky to see his shot from just outside the box hit the post after it deflected off Distin. Rooney had done all the hard work after his nifty footwork got him past Barry and Jagielka to give him space for the shot and it looked like it was going in after it took the deflection but luckily for Everton it was saved by the post which then allowed Howard to clear with his foot.

It was end to end as the half drew to a close as United lost the ball high up the pitch and Everton broke with Barkley down the left. The 20 year old hit a lovely long-range ball over to Lukaku on the right and the Chelsea loanee took it down effortlessly and ran into the box, taunting Vidic before hitting a powerful drive towards goal. It remained 0-0 though as De Gea saved with his knees and United cleared the following danger when the ball was put back in by Coleman thanks to Smalling who blocked well to deny Mirallas.

United then broke themselves with Evra on the left who eventually found Kagawa out on the wing. Kagawa then drilled in a dangerous cross that somehow missed both Welbeck and Rooney. A touch from Oviedo then inadvertently hit the ball back towards Rooney who stuck a foot out and and tricked to flick it over his head into the net but Howard was there to collect it.

United created the first chance of the second half within seconds as Evra picked up a deflected Rafael cross just outside the box and hit a powerful drive at Howard but once again the ex-United goalkeeper was there to make the save against his former club. Just before the hour mark Moyes made two chances as Rafael and Kagawa were replaced by Nani and Januzaj. It continued to be an open game and Everton made a change themselves on 68 minutes as Deulofeu came on for Barkley. Deulofeu then had a great chance to put Everton ahead after Lukaku put him in with a neat through ball. However, he could only shoot straight at De Gea and in the end it was an easy save for the Spaniard. 

United then broke with their own young substitute Januzaj as he carried the ball straight up the other end, beat McCarthy and forced a save from Howard with a shot from range. Whilst the game remained open, it was the home side who were creating the best chances in the early stages, without converting them. A Fellaini shot was deflected wide before United wasted the easiest chance of the game. After an Evra header off a Rooney corner was saved by Howard the ball rebounded out to Welbeck who had the perfect opportunity to nod in from 5 yards out. Welbeck headed it towards goal but could only find the crossbar with a poor effort.

Nani then put in a cross that fell to Rooney but even he couldn't find the target and his shot sailed over the bar which made it seem like it might not be United's night. Everton went on to hit the woodwork too when a Mirallas free kick hit the left upright. Moments later and five minutes from time United were made to rue their missed chances as Everton kept possession well around the United box before Lukaku got past Rafael and Fellaini to send a perfectly weighted cross to the far post where Oviedo ran unmarked to drill home into the far corner. It proved to be the winning goal and meant Everton finally won at Old Trafford for the first time in 21 years, a feat that David Moyes himself failed to do in his eleven years in charge of The Toffees.

Once again United had dropped points and Moyes will have plenty to think about over the Christmas period as there are clearly several areas of his squad that need desperate attention. The ageing players need to be replaced with ones of similar ability and after this performance unfortunately it seems you would have to add Nemanja Vidic to the list of players that are perhaps getting too old to play against top Premier League talent like Romelu Lukaku. Besides this, United have a clear problem in central midfield that has been identifiable for years but never solved. Whilst Marouane Fellaini may need more time to fit in he certainly does not help to paper over the cracks that have been showing for some time, even whilst Sir Alex Ferguson was still manager. To add to this the club also has a number of players performing well below-par and some vital players out injured. They will need to dig deep in January to resolve these issues if they are to have a hope of a top four finish. It goes without saying that three points are vital for the Champions against Newcastle on Saturday where they will have a point to prove, especially without their talisman Wayne Rooney as he picked up a yellow card and a suspension in this match against his former club.