LONDON, Dec 6: David Moyes has demanded Manchester United stop their season from spiralling out of control when the struggling champions face Newcastle on Saturday.

United manager Moyes endured a dispiriting evening at Old Trafford on Wednesday as his former club Everton stole a 1-0 victory thanks to a late goal from Bryan Oviedo.

The shock defeat left Moyes’ men languishing in ninth place in the Premier League and trailing leaders Arsenal by 12 points.

It was the latest setback in a troubled start to Moyes’ reign following his appointment as Alex Ferguson’s successor and left their hopes of retaining the title hanging by a slender thread.

United have already lost four times in the league this term after losing just five matches in the entire 38-game campaign last season, prompting some critics to claim the Scot is out of his depth at Old Trafford.

But Moyes remains convinced United can salvage a traumatic campaign if they get back on track quickly.

“I am really disappointed, but we go again, keep going and move on to the next game,” Moyes told MUTV. “That is the good thing here, there are always more games. We just didn’t reach the standards we would have hoped to [against Everton], but we have a chance to go again.”

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew believes Moyes will get it right eventually, but he knows the intense pressure on United could help the Magpies when they visit Manchester on Saturday.

“I think everybody knew that the first person to follow Alex, it was going to be very, very difficult,” Pardew said. “But he’s a strong man and I think he can handle it, and there’s a long, long way to go. “There’s going to be a little bit of pressure on them and we have got to try to capitalise on that and make it difficult for them.”

United’s struggles have added to the growing sense that Arsenal’s surge to the top of the table could be the prelude to a first English title for the Gunners since 2004.

Arsene Wenger’s side, 2-0 winners over Hull in midweek, are four points clear of second placed Chelsea.They face a tough test against United’s conquerors Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, but Arsenal’s Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta is confident the Gunners’ superb run of form has given them the belief they can last the pace.

Fixtures:

Saturday (1400GMT unless stated): Crystal Palace v Cardiff, Liverpool v West Ham, Manchester United v Newcastle (1245GMT), Southampton v Manchester City, Stoke v Chelsea, Sunderland v Tottenham (1730GMT), West Brom v Norwich.

Sunday: Arsenal v Everton (1600GMT), Fulham v Aston Villa (1330GMT).

Monday: Swansea v Hull (2000GMT).—AFP