Ten-Man Toffees Stun United at Old Trafford
In a remarkable Premier League encounter that defied expectations, Everton secured a memorable 1-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford, despite playing most of the match with only ten men. The extraordinary result marked David Moyes's first Premier League win at his former club as a visiting manager and ended United's five-game unbeaten run in dramatic fashion.
Bizarre Incident Mars Everton's Early Dominance
The match took a surreal turn when Everton's Idrissa Gueye received a straight red card for violent conduct in a truly bizarre incident. The Senegalese midfielder inexplicably slapped his own teammate, centre-back Michael Keane, after Keane had pushed him away during a confrontation. Referee Tony Harrington had no choice but to dismiss Gueye, leaving Everton down to ten men with over 75 minutes remaining.
Prior to the sending-off, Everton had looked the more dangerous side, with Iliman Ndiaye causing problems for United's defence. The visitors suffered an early blow when veteran captain Séamus Coleman, making his first league start since May, had to be substituted after just ten minutes due to injury.
Dewsbury-Hall Strike Seals Historic Victory
Rather than capitulating after the red card, Everton responded magnificently. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored what proved to be the winner with a spectacular 20-yard strike that flew past United goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The midfielder found himself in acres of space, shrugged off a challenge from Bruno Fernandes, deceived defender Leny Yoro and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the net.
United, despite their numerical advantage, produced a lethargic performance that frustrated the home supporters. Their best chances came late in the game when substitute Joshua Zirkzee forced Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford into two excellent saves with powerful headers, but these were rare moments of threat from Ruben Amorim's side.
Consequences for Both Clubs
The victory lifts Everton to 11th in the Premier League table, level on 18 points with Manchester United, who missed the opportunity to move into fifth position. United's disjointed display raises serious questions about their Champions League ambitions, with manager Ruben Amorim facing significant work to improve his team's cohesion and performance levels.
For David Moyes and Everton, this represents a landmark victory - only their second win at Old Trafford in 32 years. The character shown by his players to secure three points despite the early dismissal demonstrates the resilience Moyes has instilled in his squad.
The match, played exactly one year after Amorim's first game in charge of United - a 1-1 draw at Ipswich - featured six survivors from that debut lineup: Bruno Fernandes, Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt and Casemiro. United's ongoing struggles suggest that Amorim's anniversary celebrations will be muted as he contemplates the significant challenges ahead.
