Everton’s Historic Victory at Old Trafford Despite Early Dismissal

Everton’s visit to Old Trafford produced one of the most surreal moments of the Premier League season when Idrissa Gueye was sent off just 13 minutes into the match for slapping his own teammate, Keane, during a heated on-field altercation. The incident occurred after a misplaced pass from Gueye led to a Manchester United opportunity, prompting referee Tony Harrington to issue a red card without hesitation upon witnessing the slap.

Despite the initial chaos, Everton regrouped admirably, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall leading a counterattack and scoring a stunning goal to give the Toffees a lead before halftime. As the second half commenced, expectations at Old Trafford shifted towards a siege against the ten-man Everton side; however, the Toffees demonstrated remarkable defensive organization, successfully thwarting United’s increasingly desperate attempts to equalize.

Everton’s resolute performance proved effective as Manchester United squandered several scoring opportunities through players such as Bruno Fernandes, Joshua Zirkzee, and Amad Diallo. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made several crucial saves, enabling Everton to secure a historic win—David Moyes’ first Premier League victory at Old Trafford as an away manager after 17 previous attempts with Everton, West Ham, and Sunderland.

Moyes expressed his surprise at the quick dismissal and felt the referee acted too hastily given the circumstances. “If nothing happened, I don’t think anyone in the stadium would have been surprised,” he remarked. “I thought the referee could have taken a bit longer to think about it. I was informed that the rules state that if you slap your own player, you could be in trouble.”

He further explained that confrontations between teammates do not inherently trouble him as a manager. “However, there is another side to it: I appreciate my players showing passion if someone has erred. If you desire toughness and resilience for a result, you want players to act on it.”

Following the match, Gueye promptly addressed the situation, apologizing for his sending off and expressing gratitude to his teammates for their efforts despite the challenges faced.

The incident overshadowed an otherwise gritty performance from Everton in a match that threatened to unravel early on. Seamus Coleman had already been forced off due to injury just minutes into his first start in two months, and the combination of losing their captain and going down to ten men put Everton in a precarious position. Nevertheless, the team responded with collective sharpness, reorganizing defensively and adopting a compact structure that United struggled to penetrate.

In his broader post-match reflections, Moyes praised his team’s mentality, structure, and resilience. He acknowledged the significance of winning at Old Trafford, particularly under such challenging circumstances, noting that Everton “showed the toughness behind the scenes” that had carried them through recent adversities. This performance exemplified the “resilience and discipline” he expects from his squad, especially when confronting an opponent in strong form.

Looking ahead, Everton aims to build momentum from this victory, which could serve as a pivotal point in their campaign. Following a mixed start to the Premier League season, the Toffees will seek to maintain their form against Newcastle, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest before facing two formidable opponents in Chelsea and Arsenal.

Gueye is likely to face suspension for the upcoming matches against Newcastle and Bournemouth. However, should Everton impose additional penalties, his return may be delayed until the festive period.