Forward Martinez, backward Moyes

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Since David Moyes turned his back on the Toffees, Everton have progressed. Since he turned up at Old Trafford, Manchester United have gone backwards.

All other considerations are frilly window dressing. Yesterday morning’s (Singapore time) 1-0 home defeat felt strangely inevitable.

Everton’s victory over United was as deserved as it was expected. Both teams are managed by men with deeply held convictions they stubbornly refuse to shake.

Roberto Martinez sets up to win. He permitted a left back to be in the United penalty box at Old Trafford with only four minutes left. He was determined to get the Manchester monkey off Everton’s back.

Moyes admitted before the game that when he was Everton manager, he ordered his tentative players to get in and out of Old Trafford with their dignity intact; nothing more.

That was the height of his ambition. There was no glass ceiling. He set up his sides not to lose.

He still can’t shake the habit. With four minutes left, he had one of United’s most attack-minded wingers playing at right back. Antonio Valencia disappeared at the far post, granting Bryan Oviedo the freedom of Old Trafford to slot in the winner.

Valencia was pulled back. Oviedo was encouraged forward.