Soccer: Everton heap further misery on former boss Moyes as win offers more proof of power shift

Kevin Mirallas netted Everton's second goal just before halftime. Photo / AP

It was only a year ago that David Moyes, while still Everton manager, said he feared harsh economics meant the balance shift from Merseyside to Manchester was irreversible.

That he has played his part in proving that prophecy wrong, the prosperity of Manchester United and Manchester City now threatened by the visionaries down the road, is further evidence of why his first season at Old Trafford is ending in damnation.

The devil was in the detail of a comprehensive 2-0 win for his old club, Leighton Baines' penalty and Kevin Mirallas scarcely doing justice to the ease of the win.

It is the contrast between the Everton of Moyes and Roberto Martinez that is as worrying as the one between United of now and a year ago. There is a variety, speed of movement, flexibility of thought and sense of adventure at Goodison Park that was absent before Martinez's arrival. You could say Everton possess all those attributes United had before Alex Ferguson retired.

Moyes' record against the perceived "big four" was, at best, erratic - a trend he has carried into his first season at Old Trafford. The deposed champions were dire: ponderous in possession, with no obvious pattern of play and rarely a threat. This victory meant Everton had achieved their first league double over United for 44 years and virtually guaranteed they will finish above them for the first time since 1990.

Martinez relishes such milestones, although post-match he charitably said Moyes deserved credit for his role in making his transition so smooth. He was not being ironic.

"When I arrived at Everton I said I was fortunate that everything was in place. Previously I went into clubs where it looked like a bomb had just exploded," said Martinez. "I wanted to change many things, but also keep the good things that were here."

That Moyes neither saw, nor acknowledged, the gulf between the teams must have disturbed the United fans as much as the performance itself. His only consolation was that fear of a vitriolic welcome from those who once idolised him was misplaced.

The Gwladys Street had far too much fun celebrating their own team's performance to worry about barracking Moyes.

There was some mild pantomime booing before kick-off, but the Everton fans were more content to take the mickey.

The hosts took control through a 28th-minute penalty when Romelu Lukaku's goal-bound effort struck Phil Jones. Baines, as reliable as they come from the spot, made no mistake.

There was an inevitability about the first goalscorer. It was Moyes' open interest in taking Baines to Old Trafford that soured his relationship with his former club.

Mirallas doubled the lead after 43 minutes, sent clear by Seamus Coleman and striking across David De Gea as United's defence waited for an offside flag. Mirallas was onside.

"Moyesy, give us a wave," the Evertonians sang mockingly.

"You're getting sacked in the morning."

Given the grimness of this performance, the question will be posed whether his old club has edged him closer to a parting from Manchester United. Telegraph Group Ltd