Nemesis

Way too long: The FA Cup triumph at Wembley 7½ years ago was the last time Everton beat Manchester United

It has been 10 seasons since Everton last won at Old Trafford; the Toffees have subsequently taken just one point from the team that, since the inception of the Premier League, has been our nemesis.

Since Mo Johnston inspired the Blues to a surprise 3-0 victory on Manchester United soil in the 1992-93 season, Everton have only beaten the Red Devils twice — both times during the 1994-95 campaign thanks to a solitary Duncan Ferguson goal at Goodison in the Premiership and, who could forget, the triumphant 1995 FA Cup Final.

Our ten-year record against the Premiership's most successful side is, to be blunt, abysmal: two wins and two draws, one of each at home and away, the latter points being the only two we have taken from Sir Alex Ferguson's men in the past seven seasons.  And 1995 was the last time that Everton conceded less than four goals across the home and away fixtures against United.

Quite simply, playing Manchester United has become a ritual embarrassment for Everton.  While arguably lesser sides go to Old Trafford to take the game to the Reds, Everton seem to afford them far too much respect — no matter the venue — and often succumb to a heavy defeat.  The Blues' last five visits to United have yielded just three goals in a run of comprehensive defeats: 0-2, 1-3, 1-5, 0-1 and 1-4.  It seems as though Everton's own form-book goes out the window when they pass through the gates of Old Trafford.

All of which is quite a change from the "dogs of war" era, when Joe Royle's tenacious outfit regularly hustled the prettier sides out of their stride by closing the down, biting their ankles and generally not giving them any space to play the way they wanted to play.  Somewhere along the way, despite its success, that tactic has fallen by the wayside.

However, the advent of the David Moyes regime may offer the perfect opportunity to bring back that strategy of playing a high-octane pressing game and finally lay the "Man Yoo hoodoo" to rest.  What finer way to atone for years of pathetic subjugation at the hands of England's most hated team than to go to Old Trafford in front of the Sky Sports cameras and steal all three points?

This season, more than any in recent years, may offer a prime opportunity.  Like last year, Sir Alex's men have made a bad start to the campaign.  While always capable of turning on a five-star performance at any time, United are not the invincible outfit they have always been over the past decade.

And Everton are not the same as they have been in recent seasons either.  The steely determination and will to win that Moyes has instilled in his charges makes the Blues a tougher proposition now than perhaps at any time since the days of Joe Royle.  While Walter Smith's tactics against United always had an air of damage limitation rather than any genuine belief in victory, Moyes will no doubt instruct his men to give their overpaid and success-drunk counterparts something to think about on their own stage.

One thing is certain: Everton are due a victory against Manchester United — to make up for a succession of humiliating defeats, for affording them too much respect, and, simply, because it has been so long since the last time the Blues tasted success over these particular reds.  With the nation watching, the stage is set...

Lyndon Lloyd

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