MANCHESTER United’s 2-0 victory over Stoke took them level with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League after Roberto Mancini’s men were beaten at Everton.

Manchester City head the table on goal difference, but have now tasted defeat at Goodison Park in each of the last three seasons following Everton’s 1-0 victory, which was sealed by former Manchester United player Darron Gibson.

The visitors shaded a fiercely-contested first half, with Samir Nasri’s thunderbolt - which rebounded off the bar - the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock. The most drama was generated by bizarre scenes five minutes before half-time, as a fan handcuffed himself to one of the posts on Joe Hart’s goal, prompting a delay of four minutes before he was moved away.

Gibson gave the Toffees a shock advantage on the hour, drilling in a shot from 20 yards that took a deflection off Gareth Barry and spun into the goal. City toiled without reward in their attempts to find an equaliser, allowing United right back into the title race.