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The Everton midfielder was given a round of applause from his Everton teammates after issuing an explanation for his shocking red card during Monday's victory at Old Trafford.

Rare Incident in Premier League

Gueye earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be sent off for hitting a fellow player in nearly two decades when he struck his defensive colleague during the fixture. The Toffees' display was remarkable as they competed with a man down for the majority of the game, including added time, to secure David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.

'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' he wrote on his accounts. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'

Dressing Room Reaction

Gueye was unable to secure an chance to speak with Moyes or his colleagues at the interval. Following the match, with the away dressing room celebrating after the narrow victory, the veteran asked to speak to the whole team and Keane in particular.

• Gueye apologized to the defender for slapping him across the face
• The heated early altercation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own defensive third
• Additionally he apologized to the squad for leaving them with a monumental task
• His apology were warmly received by the squad

Potential Ramifications

Gueye could still be punished by Everton despite Moyes' admission that he appreciates his team members fighting with each other. Moyes has a regular punishment process for red and yellow cards, including fines, which is likely to be applied in Gueye's case.

Suspension and International Duty

The Merseyside club may find themselves without their key midfielder until the new year. The Senegalese international will serve a three-match suspension against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be called up for AFCON responsibilities by his national team before he can return to play against Chelsea on mid-December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Opposition Reaction

At the same time, the Manchester United defender accused his team of lacking immediacy in the recent defeat, which halted their unbeaten run at five games.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' said the Netherlands international
• 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
• 'When facing sides like Everton,' that defend deep it's difficult

The Red Devils head to Selhurst Park for the weekend lunchtime start. 'The next game is really important now,' said the defender. 'We have to bounce back from this performance.'