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Manchester United 0 Everton 1: Roberto Martinez leads Everton to first Old Trafford triumph in almost 25 years

by Simon Williams at Old Trafford

‏David Moyes believes Manchester United are going to have to win an "awful lot of games" if they are going to hang on to their Premier League title.

‏Moyes was speaking after his side slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of his former club Everton courtesy of an 86th-minute winner from Bryan Oviedo.

‏The Red Devils had chances to open the scoring with Wayne Rooney first-half effort rebounding of the post before former United keeper Tim Howard's point blank save kept out Patrice Evra only for Danny Welbeck to head the rebound against the bar.

‏But Oviedo's strike gave the Toffees their first victory at Old Trafford for 21 years - an achievement that escaped Moyes during his 11 years in charge of the Merseysiders.

‏"(I am) Disappointed to lose but that the way the game goes sometimes," said the Scot.

‏"Our game was tight, we missed some opportunities to score and Everton took theirs when they got their opportunity.

‏"They (Everton) are a really good team with really good players. But you would imagine the defeat is a sore one when it's your old team."

‏The defeat, a first in 13 games in all competitions, leaves United in ninth place in the league and 12 points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

‏"We've got a long way to go. We'll need to play some great football and win an awful lot of games in the run in if we are going to be in and around it come the end of the season," Moyes added.

‏For Everton there were scenes of delight at the final whistle as Sylvain Distin paraded matchwinner Oviedo on his shoulders in front of the travelling Evertonians, who had taunted their former manager throughout the game.

‏The victory stretched Everton's unbeaten to seven games with Roberto Martinez's side having only lost once in the league so far this season.

‏"We never felt inferior and we kept doing what we are good at. Overall I couldn't be prouder of the players," said Martinez.

‏"I always felt this squad was capable of going anywhere in the league and playing teams eye to eye. That doesn't mean you are going to win - you're going to lose or draw games.

‏"In the first half we did certain good things but I don't think we had a real meaning. The second half performance was a lot better. When we went into the final third we had real composure and we looked like a real threat and that pleased me a lot.

‏"I told the boys it gives you a real indication of what can be achieved but we have done nothing - we need to carry on improving, carry on getting better and make sure we can perform like that anywhere in the league."

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