While there was never going to be any great reconciliation for the latest return of the Prodigal Son – The Grand Old Lady doesn’t tend to give out bouquets like that – the abuse he received from the stands was concentrated on smaller pockets rather than the chanting en masse of previous visits.

Generally, the silent majority seemed to be making noise cheering their own side to victory and on this occasion Everton’s excellent display ensured a subdued Rooney remained only a peripheral player in an engrossing plot.

It was his languid strike partner Dimitar Berbatov that struck the first blow on 16 minutes, crashing in a shot off the crossbar after United winger Antonio Valencia had escaped the attentions of Leighton Baines and crossed from the right.

In need of a moment of magic to stay in the game, Everton responded just three minutes later as Bilyaletdinov unleashed a sensational 20-yard strike.

Donovan had a golden opportunity but the US international scuffed his chance when the ball fell to his feet via a Wes Brown header.

The Californian might not be your archetypal Everton ‘number nine’ but operating both on the left wing and just behind Saha he produced yet another hugely effective performance during what has been a successful loan spell, showing that it’s probably more fruitful to have Americans on the pitch than in the boardroom.

Until 20 minutes from time the game looked to be heading for a draw but it was at this juncture Everton stepped up a gear.

Moyes withdrew his goalscorer and threw on Gosling and within six minutes the 20-year-old slid the ball in to the net from a Pienaar left-wing cross after the South African had played a clever one-two with Donovan.

And there was more to come in the 90th minute as Rodwell, who’d only been on the pitch for two minutes, latched on to an Arteta pass went round Jonny Evans and picked his spot perfectly to ensure that at least one member of the Rooney household will have been happy on Saturday.

After all, Wayne says he has bought baby son Kai an Everton kit.