'Wayne Rooney's return to Everton was overshadowed by the awesome and the awful.
The awesome? Manchester United's impressive cruise to the FA Cup quarter-finals, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who set up Quinton Fortune's opener and bundled the decisive second goal himself.
And the awful? The sickening scene of United keeper Roy Carroll dropping to the ground, clutching his head, after being hit by a missile from the crowd.
Rooney had taken all the attention, but he escaped with "Judas" chants, regular booing and the sight of a small yellow object from the crowd missing him by yards. Instead it was Carroll who suffered on an afternoon that was otherwise firm but fair as United's hunger and fluency dictated. Rio Ferdinand's imperious presence in defence defied a stodgy surface.
Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were regal in central midfield. And Ronaldo was rampant down the flanks, while Rooney bristled with menace and inventive runs up front. Boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It was a fantastic performance by us. In fairness I think Everton have missed a couple of players and got some young players out today. The boy Ronaldo is a fantastic player. The abuse he took - I don’t know how many fouls he had against him and no one was booked. I don’t understand this game - Roy Keane has two fouls and is booked.
"But Ronaldo is persistent and never gives in. He gets up and wants the ball again. He’s truly a fabulous player."
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