JACK RODWELL admits Everton missed an opportunity to capitalise on Manchester United’s vulnerability at the weekend.

Javier Hernandez struck the only goal as David Moyes’s injury-hit side slipped to a 1-0 home defeat against the Premier League champions on Saturday.

Everton had hoped to take advantage of United’s brittle confidence following their 6-1 thrashing against neighbours City at Old Trafford last Sunday.

And convinced United are not the force they were last season, Rodwell accepts the visitors were there for the taking.

“It was definitely a chance missed,” said the midfielder. “In the second half especially, we were pushing forward and they were sitting back but we just lacked that bit of creativity in the final third.

“We had a lot of possession, and they were there for the taking but we didn’t manage to capitalise on that.

“United stepped off in the second half and let us play around, which we didn’t expect. We expected them to press us a lot more, but we didn’t capitalise.

“Maybe they felt vulnerable from last week, and in the last 10 to 15 minutes of the first half we started to get a head of steam, but at the start of the second half they decided to shut up shop as they had the lead.”

Rodwell added: “They managed to keep us out of the box, but they weren’t the same side (as last season).

“Maybe there was a backlash from losing 6-1 last week and they didn’t want to go gung-ho against us.

“They’ll have looked at the goals they conceded then, and there were a lot of players who were bombing on going forward. Perhaps the manager told them to sit back here.”

Everton were without injured trio Phil Neville, Tim Cahill and Sylvain Distin, while Royston Drenthe was suspended.

Rodwell was one of several Everton players on display on Saturday to have in the extra-time Carling Cup defeat to Chelsea less than 72 hours earlier.

But the 20-year-old refused to use those exertions as an excuse for Everton’s subdued showing, and said: “A lot of the lads were tired, but at the start of the game you aren’t focused on that. Myself and a few of the other players were tiring towards the end, but there can’t be any excuses.