Roberto Martinez completed a Premier League double over Manchester United[GETTY]Not since Harry Catterick's team swept to the League title in 1969-70 campaign have Everton enjoyed such superiority over United.
And Martinez is on course for another notable achievement, barring a miracle set of results it will be the first time Everton have finished above United since 1989-90 and Sir Alex Ferguson's winter of discontent.
In a season of unwanted 'firsts' for United, these are statistics that will underline the progress being made under Martinez and the enormity of the job facing Moyes at Old Trafford.
While Everton are battling with Arsenal for Champions League football, United are facing the prospect of no European football at all. They need Arsenal to win the FA Cup and finish fifth to sneak in the back door via seventh place.
Many would consider they would be better off out of it to give them a less cluttered fixture list as Moyes attempts to build them back into title contenders. It is going to be some job.
United's fall from grace is also illustrated by their record against the six clubs above them in the table. In those 12 games United have only won once - at home to Arsenal, drawn three and lost the other eight, including doubles to Liverpool, Manchester City and Everton.
Goodison Park always used to be one of United's happy hunting grounds. They had only suffered three defeats there in the Premier League years but all that has changed now.
David Moyes was furious with his players, but conceded that the penalty was justified [GETTY]Opinion was divided in the debate that had raged in the days building up to the game about which of the managers faced the harder job in the summer: Martinez taking over from Moyes or Moyes taking over from Ferguson.
While that is open to debate, it is clear who is making a better fist of his new post: Martinez. He has built impressively on what Moyes left him.
The indomitable spirit that Moyes fostered is still there but Romalu Lukaku, Gareth Barry and James McCarthy have given the team a greater authority and presence, while the players Moyes left behind have all improved.
Many United players have simply gone backwards this season.
Martinez will have been particularly pleased with the way Everton responded to the shock of their midweek defeat by Crystal Palace.
The end of their seven-game winning run could have precipitated a slump especially when faced by the prospect of the two Manchester clubs to play in their final two home games.
With fourth place rivals Arsenal winning at Hull, Everton simply had to win to keep alive their Champions League qualifying hopes and, despite United enjoying plenty of possession, they did it with surprising comfort.
Wayne Rooney made little impact on the game at Goodison Park [GETTY]United could consider themselves unlucky to be 2-0 down at the break, through Phil Jones' handball and the failure of their offside trap. They weaved some pretty patterns, with Juan Mata at the heart of all their best work, but for all their possession they rarely threatened a goal.
Everton's attack always carried more pace and penetration. And despite Moyes ringing the changes in the second half, their opponents never looked like cracking.
This time last season Moyes was saluted for his 11 years work in his farewell appearance at Goodison.
Yesterday, he had "sacked in the morning" chants burning in his ears. What a difference a year makes.
No comments:
Post a Comment