Everton came out more determined after the break with Castillo flashing a header across goal from a left-wing corner-kick by Steven Pienaar while Fellaini will have been disappointed to have allowed Shay Given any chance at all to make a world-class save from point blank range to deny the Belgian a volleyed effort with the South African again the provider.

As the hosts pressed for an equaliser, City caught them with a classic counter-attack on 54 minutes when they broke from a shot by Castillo which was closed down.

The ball found its way to Robinho on the left flank and he picked out Stephen Ireland on the far side of the area and the 22-year-old who has been Eastlands’ biggest success story of this season was presented with a simple finish.

Moyes made a bold statement of intent to try and revive Everton’s fortunes with a triple substitution on the hour-mark with Dan Gosling, Cahill and James Vaughan replacing Castillo, Fellaini and Saha but the gamble did not pay off as four minutes later Jagielka was stretchered off leaving the home side with 10 men.

With captain Phil Neville forced to operate as a makeshift centre-back, that should have been the cue for City to stroll their way to victory but unnecessarily they got nasty with a string of ill-tempered incidents involving sly fouls and pushing and shoving.

Referee Alan Wiley seemed to lose control somewhat as tempers flared and Everton were left incensed on several occasions, including when former player Richard Dunne handled a Leighton Baines cross in the area but no penalty was awarded.

City could have gone even further ahead but Ireland fluffed an easy chance and while both sides were welcoming the prospect of the final whistle, an additional seven minutes were added to shock Goodison even more.

There was almost the unlikeliest of comebacks when midway through the elongated stoppage time substitute Gosling fired home a crisp left-foot finish from the edge of the area after being picked out by Pienaar – a goal in very different circumstances to his last one at the Park End – but despite Vincent Kompany being forced into conceding a late corner the Everton cavalry charge could not find another breakthrough.

Moyes’ men still have a further four fixtures to fulfil before the latest FA Cup Final on May 30 but given that he cannot wrap his remaining fit players in cotton wool until then the Scot could be forgiven for hoping it was put back even further – by several months perhaps?