Everton manager David Moyes made light of midfielder Idrissa Gueye's sending off for a confrontation with teammate Michael Keane 13 minutes into his side's 1-0 Premier League win away to Manchester United on Monday.
After 17 failed attempts to win a league game at Old Trafford as a visiting manager, Moyes finally enjoyed a victory in unusual circumstances after Everton's Gueye saw red for slapping Keane after a heated exchange.
It was only the third time in Premier League history that a player had been dismissed for a fracas with a teammate and the first time since 2008 when Stoke City's Ricardo Fuller slapped Andy Griffin during a match at West Ham United.
Moyes said that Senegal international Gueye had apologised and that the incident had some positives.
"These things happen in football, I thought the referee could maybe have taken a little bit longer to think about it," the manager said after Everton's first league win at Old Trafford for 12 years and second in their last 33 visits.
"I'm getting told the rules are that if you slap your own player or raise an arm in some way you can be in trouble. But, you know, there's another side of it.
"I quite like my own players fighting each other and getting annoyed with each other because of a bad ball or someone didn't do the right action. If you want a winning team, with the resilience and toughness that got us the result, then I think you've got to have players that are going to react in that way."
Referee Tony Harrington reached for his red card after Gueye aimed a slap at Keane who had shoved the midfielder. Gueye then had to be restrained by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Idrissa Gueye of Everton receives a red card for a disagreement with Michael Keane of Everton during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on November 24, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty
Idrissa Gueye was sent off for a confrontation with teammate Michael Keane after 13 minutes
Despite the incident, Everton became the first team to win a Premier League game at Old Trafford after having a player sent off thanks to a superb goal by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
"I'm incredibly proud of the players and the supporters here today because I know it has been a regular occurrence where we've not got a result here," Moyes said.
"It was never going to be an easy game for us with 11 players, but to do it with 10 players was an incredible job by the players."
Moyes handed Seamus Coleman his first start of the Premier League season on the back of the Donegal full-back's performances for the Republic of Ireland against both Portugal and Hungary.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Seamus Coleman of Everton interacts with David Moyes, Manager of Everton, as he is substituted off during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on November 24, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Seamus Coleman came off injured after 10 minutes
However, Coleman's evening ended very prematurely, the 37-year old being withdrawn after 10 minutes with Moyes confirming afterwards that he "felt a nick in his hamstring."
He was replaced by international team-mate Jake O'Brien who was part of the successful defensive effort for the remainder of the evening.
After the game, Geuye took to social media on Monday night to apologise.
"I want to apologise first to my team-mate Michael Keane. I take full responsibility for my reaction. I also apologise to my teammates, the staff, the fans and the club.
"What happened does not reflect who I am or the values I stand for. Emotions can run high, but nothing justifies such behaviour. I'll make sure it never happens again."