Everton 2 - Manchester United 0: Boo-hoo Moyes as United surrender to terrific Toffees #CarryGobySeanKellz #FutureGroupNG via @i_amreginaldjr

THE smattering of boos from those who could even be bothered to abuse David Moyes will not have hurt.

Kevin Mirallas netted Everton's second goal over Manchester United[GETTY]

In time, he might even see the funny side of the fan dressed up as the Grim Reaper and who waved an imitation scythe behind him whenever he stepped out from the Manchester United dug-out.
Rather, the most painful aspect of Moyes’ return to Goodison Park lay in the insipid, pallid manner in which his players once again performed to taste defeat in a contest he would have wanted to win above so many others.
That is where the sense of grievance falls today. Everton showed just how far they have come under successor Roberto Martinez, following up December’s success with a carefree triumph courtesy of Leighton Baines’ penalty and Kevin Mirallas’ fine finish, to post a first league double over United in 44 years.
They now require a single point to qualify for the Europa League and, in remaining on Arsenal’s coat-tails, will continue to dream of the Champions League.
For Moyes, aware that rejoining Europe’s elite next term is now officially out of reach, the nightmares simply intensify.
The visitor’s limitations were laid horribly bare here, Tim Howard forced into his first meaningful save in the 86th minute to thwart Wayne Rooney from halving a deficit that hardly reflected Everton’s superiority as it was.
If it is pertinent to ask which United players would get into Martinez’s line-up - Rooney was largely peripheral and Michael Carrick non-existent - then it is also relevant to pose questions about why they were over-powered from the outset.
This was, after all, United’s first game since their Champions League reverse to Bayern Munich 11 days ago.

 

Leighton Baines put the Toffees ahead after converting a penalty [GETTY]

Everton had lost to Crystal Palace on Wednesday but they emerged energised and eager to prove a point.
Moyes would have recognised the host’s hunger - he signed eight of Everton starting line-up during his 11 years at the helm - and the fact that United were unhinged by two goals on the counter-attack was a nod and a wink to the past rather than the present given Martinez’s desire to exert total control.
Given United’s defensive shortcomings, it would have been remiss not to test them and the breakthrough benefited from the directness of their approach.
Ross Barkley’s pumped clearance from the edge of his own area pitted Jonny Evans in an aerial duel with Romelu Lukaku, which he won but headed straight to Steven Naismith.
Naismith then linked with Lukuku, who cut off the right and on to his left foot eyeing up another finish like the one he plundered against Arsenal recently. His shot was true but blocked by the right arm of Phil Jones, who raised it as he inadvertently slipped and referee Mark Clattenburg had no hesitation awarding a penalty.
Baines dispatched the spot-kick down the middle with the nonchalance of someone who has now scored 12 out of 12 penalties in the Premier League for the club.
The sight of Jones all at sea is not unusual for a player who has not trained on and he will hardly take heart from his role in Everton’s second.

Roberto Martinez celebrates and consigns David Moyes to his second defeat against the Toffees [GETTY]

Clattenburg played an excellent advantage after Juan Mata caught Baines, but the space Everton were granted in constructing their attack was pathetic. Or “right rotten,” according to Moyes.
Naismith released Seamus Coleman, who seemed able to glide down the right at will and he picked out the run of Mirallas with a threaded pass between Jones and Evans.
Played onside by Alexander Buttner, the angle was acute for Mirallas. However his finish was unerring, speared beyond David De Gea and finding the far corner.
Moyes’ contention that United had played well until then fails to take into account that, while they had plenty of possession, they did nothing with it.
They passed for the sake of it and were so pedestrian it was untrue.
It is not coincidence that they have won once in 12 games against the top six this term, scoring just six goals in the process, and Danny Welbeck’s apparent disenchantment adds to the predicament.
The England striker was held back until the final 15 minutes and later reassured he is wanted by United, though that is largely because they cannot change everyone. Not if they are expected - and they will be - to be contenders next term.

Wayne Rooney looks dejected after seeing his former side win again [GETTY]

Moyes’ misery seemed complete an hour after the final whistle when the United team coach got stuck in traffic outside the Winslow pub in the shadow of Goodison and the fans poured on to the pavement to poke fun.
It was the first time all afternoon, they could not be accused of going backwards.
Everton (4-3-2-1): Howard 8, Coleman 9, Stones 7, Distin 6 (Alcaraz 45 7), Baines 7; McCarthy 8, Barry 7, Barkley 7 (Osman 70 6); Mirallas 8 (McGeady 90), Naismith 7; Lukaku 7. Booked: Barkley, McCarthy Goal: Baines 28pen, Mirallas 43.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea 7, Smalling 6, Jones 5, Evans 5 (Hernandez 61 6), Buttner 5; Carrick 5, Fletcher 6; Nani 4 (Valencia 61 5), Mata 6, Kagawa 5 (Welbeck 75 5); Rooney 6. Booked: Jones, Smalling, Rooney.
Referee: M Clattenburg (Tyne and Wear).
Next up: Everton - Sat: Southampton (a) league. Manchester United - Sat: Norwich (h) league.