‘Previous’ behind shock Michael Keane and Idrissa Gueye bust up in Everton win at Man United
Michael Keane and Idrissa Gueye’s clash in the latest Everton victory didn’t come out of nowhere, according to Darren Bent.
Everton beat Man United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Monday night despite going down to 10 men early in the first half.
Gueye and Keane reacted angrily after a loose ball in the box was fired wide of Jordan Pickford‘s goal, and the Senegalese midfielder was red carded for a slap to the defender’s face before the keeper intervened.
Following the win David Moyes said he didn’t have a problem with teammates fighting, and Gueye reportedly gained admiration from the Everton squad for his handling of the situation.
Darren Bent says Gueye and Keane must have previous
The players involved are believed to have already moved on from the flashpoint so there is not expected to be any lingering effects, but Bent doesn’t think the matter will have sprung up out of the blue.
Speaking live on talkSPORT on Tuesday he said: “That tells me, because it went from zero to 100, rapid, there must be previous there.
“That might go back to previous games where maybe a similar situation has happened and maybe Michael Keane‘s had a go, Idrissa Gana Gueye‘s given a little bit back, it got sorted. And maybe just bubbling, bubbling, maybe it happened in training.
“And then you get boiling point. I’ve been in training grounds where there’ve been bust ups and you turn around and they’re absolutely just swinging for the hills. I’ve seen Kieran Richardson have one before…
“Things like that, to go so rapidly, and in that scenario in terms of on the pitch – the training ground’s a different matter, you do all that in house – but for it to happen there, on the pitch, that tells me that there’s previous.”
Win at Old Trafford solved entire problem
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall‘s goal at Old Trafford, along with an admirable team performance with 10 men and a superb Pickford save from Joshua Zirkzee did more than secure three valuable points.
Winning at Man United might not be what it used to be, but in the circumstances it gave Moyes a showpiece result to build from, and smoothed over any fallout from the Gueye red card.
Had Everton conceded soon after going a man down on the way to a heavy defeat the entire episode would have been looked at very differently, even if Keane seemed as much, if not more, responsible.
With a win sending the travelling fans home happy and taking the Toffees to three points off the top four it allows both managers to highlight the positives in caring enough to fight over a loose pass, and Moyes especially to show his side what they are capable of against the odds.
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