Everton 2-0 Man Utd

The result ensured David Moyes´ return to Goodison Park ended in despair but more importantly kept our Champions League hopes alive with a 2-0 win.

First-half goals by Leighton Baines – from the penalty spot – and Kevin Mirallas kept Everton one point behind fourth-place Arsenal with three games remaining.

Moyes received some boos before kick-off but the Goodison crowd immediately turned into deafening support for Roberto Martinez´s side as Everton looked to respond to Wednesday night´s disappointing loss to Crystal Palace.

Everton started well. Seamus Coleman found Steven Naismith in the box but his shot was blocked by Evans´ right elbow. Mark Clattenburg waved away appeals for a penalty. Moments later the referee had no choice but to point to the spot when Jones inexplicably stuck out his right arm to stop Lukaku´s shot. Baines blasted the ball down the middle inches away from De Gea´s outstretched leg.

Everton were playing some beautiful football. Coleman, Mirallas and Steven Naismith played the ball in a tight triangle, but Lukaku could not finish off the move.

The seemingly inevitable second came just before the break when the excellent Coleman played in Mirallas, who beat De Gea from close range. United appealed for offside against Mirallas, but replays showed Buttner had played the Belgian on.

it did not get any better at any point for Moyes or his team. A stream of substitutions followed in the second half, but nothing could turn the tide in United´s favour.

Everton continued to looked the more likely side to add a third with Naismith sliding a finish over the top from Mirallas´s cross then bringing a fine low save from De Gea.

Tim Howard had an easy afternoon but was called into action late on to deny Wayne Rooney. A rare opportunity for what proved a comfortable afternoon for Everton as they moved to within a point of Arsenal in the race for Champions League football.