Honeymoon over. Not that everything been going swimmingly for David Moyes since leaving Everton for Manchester United. But things took a serious turn for worse after Wednesday night’s encounter with the ex.

Vitriol and hatred poured down from the visiting fans to Moyes’s right after a late winner from Bryan Oviedo condemned Manchester United to their fourth defeat of the Barclays Premier League campaign. How the Merseysiders gloated as they rejoiced amid the billowing blue smoke of a flare with a full repertoire of songs. ‘Are you watching David Moyes?’, ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ and, a favourite all night: ‘Oh David Moyes is full of s***’.

Roberto Martinez turned towards them at the final whistle and offered his applause and Sylvain Distin hoisted match-winner Oviedo up onto his shoulders. The symbolism was lost on no-one. In 11 years as Everton manager, Moyes had never been able to secure a Premier League win at United, Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal.

Martinez did it at the first time of asking and Everton won at Old Trafford for the first time in 21 years. ‘It was more than a football game,’ said the Toffees boss after ending the hoodoo. As the visitors enjoyed their victory, United fans sped for the exits. They will wake today to the reality that the champions are languishing ninth in the Premier League, a dozen points adrift of pacesetters Arsenal.

All of their closest rivals won on a busy night and to make matters worse, Wayne Rooney collected his fifth yellow card of the season and will miss Saturday’s game at home to Newcastle. It might have been worse for Rooney. He was booked for a launching a shoulder into Phil Jagielka’s face. As ever, on a night of frustration, United’s talisman flirted with trouble.

Jagielka turned away holding his mouth and Martinez, standing close by, reacted angrily, although he had calmed down by the time he spoke after the match and agreed a yellow card was the right decision.

Moyes could offer no assurances that the mysterious groin injury which is keeping Robin van Persie out of action would be cured in time to face Newcastle, when he desperately needs a win to stay in touch at the top.

Chances are being missed and they look frail at the back and it will be no consolation that this defeat was a thrilling contest which could have been won before Oviedo struck in the 85th minute. Rooney and Danny Welbeck hit the woodwork and, although United can claim to have been the better team overall. Tim Howard produced some wonderful saves but Everton were always dangerous on the break.

Romelu Lukaku in particular, with his muscle and fluent movement, gave Nemanja Vidic a torrid night and set up Oviedo’s goal. Jose Mourinho may not have been impressed with some of the thing Lukaku has said since leaving Stamford Bridge on loan but he cannot help but enjoy his progress, again assisting in a win against one of the Chelsea’s title rivals.

The same could be said of Gareth Barry, quietly effective as ever, filling the holes and knitting play together. Lukaku lashed shot wide with only a few minutes gone and David de Gea beat away a fierce shot which exploded from the right boot of Kevin Mirallas.

United gradually built some tempo. Howard saved from Rooney and Shinji Kagawa and Old Trafford roared its disapproval at a couple of first-half decisions by Martin Atkinson, never a popular referee in these parts. Atkinson did get it right when Welbeck darted into the box and took a tumble and the appeal went up for a penalty. The referee played on and replays suggested it was a good call. Ryan Giggs went close, glancing a header inches wide of the far post from Rafael’s cross and Rooney went closer still when his low effort clipped Jagielka and Distin and thumped into the foot of a post with the goalkeeper frozen.

For half an hour before half-time, United forced Everton back and Marouane Fellaini grew in stature. Fellaini prowled the width of halfway, collecting scraps, leaning around with his giant frame, easing possession away from the would-be counter-attackers in blue shirts. Yet he could not stop everything. Ross Barkley slipped away but his effort faded away from 20 yards and, on one of the rare occasions Fellaini allowed himself ahead of the ball, Rafael’s pass was loose and Everton broke dangerously.

It was a warning of what would happen in a game so precariously balanced. low cross sparked a pinball routine before the interval. Rooney missed his kick and then had a second chance when a ricochet spun his way from Oviedo. Again he failed to connect properly. Old Trafford pulsated. Just as United seemed to be smothering Howard’s goal, the visitors would wriggle free and threaten on the break. Gerard Deulofeu had only been on a few seconds when he found himself clean through but unable to beat De Gea.

Howard’s best save of the night, a reflex reaction to deny Patrice Evra’s close range header from a corner. He could only paw it as far as Welbeck, who craned his neck and headed against the bar. Jagielka hooked it away. If it had the look of another one of the those nights for Moyes, it would get worse when Lukaku swung a low cross in from the right, where Oviedo pounced.

It was a second in as many games for the Costa Rican left back deputising for Leighton Baines, the defender wanted by former Everton boss Moyes, who has already plundered Goodison for his coaching staff and Fellaini. Little wonder they enjoyed ending the honeymoon.

—Daily Mail