Manchester United finished with nine men in a 1-0 defeat at Everton on Wednesday.
Everton striker Duncan Ferguson headed Everton's winner in the 55th minute and they took charge after a 72nd-minute red card for United's Gary Neville, who kicked the ball at a section of the Goodison Park crowd.
United midfielder Paul Scholes was dismissed in stoppage time for a second booking as Alex Ferguson's men stayed third on 67 points, four points adrift of Arsenal.
Everton's first league win over United for 10 years cemented their hold on fourth place and a slot in the Champions League qualifying round by moving on to 57 points.
They stay three points and a game in hand ahead of Merseyside rivals Liverpool, who won 2-1 at Portsmouth.