Man United 0 Everton 1: Moyes stunned by former club as Oviedo scores late winner to secure Toffees first victory at Old Trafford in 21 yearsIf David Moyes really was hoping for a mixed reception from those who once adored him then he would have been disappointed. Those bridges have burned and that is the remotest of his concern after he was beaten by his old team.
Far more pressing for the Manchester United manager is the yawning gap between the champions and the top of the Barclays Premier League.
Here is the true test of his bridge building qualities. Bryan Oviedo scored the only goal at Old Trafford, five minutes from time. United have lost four of his first 14 Barclays Premier League games at this new club.
Head and shoulders: Bryan Oviedo, celebrating with Sylvain Distin at the final whistle, after scoring the winner
Net gains: Bryan Oviedo stuns Manchester United after he scored the winning goal with four minutes remaining
Life of Bryan: The Everton defender is mobbed by his team-mates as the Toffees secured an historic victory
We've done it: Bryan Oviedo celebrates with Romelu Lukaku after scoring the decisive goal
It will be no consolation that this was a thrilling game, that could have gone either way. For Moyes it went the wrong way. Not so for Roberto Martinez, his replacement at Goodison Park and those Evertonians who sang: 'Are you watching, David Moyes' and 'You're getting sacked in the morning'.
Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra hit the woodwork and, although United were the better team, the visitors were always dangerous on the break.
They hit the bar as well and struck late through Oviedo, who appeared on the left to bury a low cross from Romelu Lukaku.
As ever when frustration is in the air, Rooney flirted with trouble, launching a shoulder at Phil Jagielka after the ball had gone, on the hour.
Jagielka turned away holding his mouth and Martinez, standing close by, reacted angrily. It was not so blatant as the kick at Cardiff which ought to been a red card, but again he escaped with a booking.
All smiles: David Moyes shares a joke with Roberto Martinez ahead of the Premier League clash at Old Trafford
Former favourite: Marouane Fellaini, playing against his old club for the first time, battles for the ball with Romelu Lukaku
Up for the challenge: Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney takes a shot at Tim Howard's Everton goal
A sliver of relief. Without Rooney, this task would look even harder for Moyes. Like former lovers studiously ignoring each other weeks after a split, there was no eye contact between Moyes and the Everton supporters.
The United boss gave Leon Osman a hug but the Scousers were busily offering their song-based critique of the entertainment available in Manchester when the manager came out.
It didn't take long though before they made their true feelings known. 'David Moyes is full of s***' they chorused. So much for the mixed reception the United boss had predicted, but the travelling fans had seen their team start at a healthy tempo, slicking the ball around, moving fluently.
Perhaps they are not missing the man who walked out after 11 years and came back for his coaching staff. And to sign Marouane Fellaini. And to try to sign Leighton Baines, who was at Old Trafford. Baines was injured but Fellaini was on parade in his red shirt, selected to play alongside Ryan Giggs deep in midfield, although the pair took time to get a grip on the game's flow.
Early in the game the movement and muscle of Lukaku caused Nemanja Vidic a few problems, even if lots of moves broken down on his inconsistent touch around the fringes of the penalty area.
Lukaku lashed shot wide with only a few minutes gone and David de Gea beat away a fierce shot which exploded form the right boot of Kevin Mirallas.
Fifteen minutes were gone before Tim Howard made his first save of the night, from Rooney, another former Evertonian, albeit one who made the switch many years ago.
The visitors were not happy that play had been allowed to continue after Danny Welbeck caught Steven Pienaar in the face with an arm. Pienaar stayed down as United went forward.
Mirallas wasted a chance to clear before Patrice Evra set up Rooney but Howard reacted superbly to his low effort. Pienaar was well enough to continue but this passage of play seemed to energise United. Rooney came to life.
Howard saved again from Shinji Kagawa and Old Trafford roared its disapproval at a couple of 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.
Giggs went close, glancing a header inches wide of the far post as he made a sharp run to connect well with Rafael's cross from the right, and Rooney went closer still when his low effort clipped Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin and thumped into the foot of a post with the goalkeeper frozen.
Here Fellaini grew in stature. United forced Everton back and when they tried to break free, he 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. He could not stop everything.
Ross Barkley slipped away once as half-time approached 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.
De Gea saved from Lukaku and Chris Smalling blocked from Mirallas. It was a warning of what would happen in a game precariously balanced. United went close before the break when Kagawa's low cross sparked a pinball routine. Rooney missed his kick and then had a second chance when a ricochet spun his way from Oviedo. The United striker hooked the ball towards goal but Howard gathered. The Everton keeper Howard saved again, soon after the break, this time from Evra, storming forward and connecting sweetly with a 25-yarder. It pulsated.
Just as United seemed to be winning the fight, the visitors would wriggle free and threaten on the break. Jagielka recovered to deny Welbeck at one end. Smalling saved his team at the other.
Mirallas blazed another effort wide from long range. Gerard Deulofeu had only been on seconds when he found himself clean through on goal but his shot was smothered by De Gea.
Another substitute, Adnan Januzaj forced a save before Howard's best of the night, a reflex reaction to deny Evra's close range header from a corner.
The Everton keeper could only paw it to Welbeck, but his header hit the bar and Jagielka hooked it to safety. One of those nights. Another one of those nights for Moyes.
Source: Matt Barlow / Daily Mail