The Manchester derby is a game whose meaning has become even more important in recent seasons as the blue side of Manchester has begun challenging their city rivals for titles and managed to beat United to it a couple of times. City have won the last four derbies with an aggregate score of 10-2, which isn't a good record to go into an important game with. However, this game presents a different picture. United went in as favourites instead of City for the first time in a long time after a run of good results and performances, and City have a poor record of only 4 wins in 14 games. Form does go out of the window in the big games though; would this match prove to be another great challenge between the two fierce rivals?
It was certainly City that started the brightest. They were pressing United high up the pitch and wouldn't let their opposition get a foothold in the game as they looked to pass the ball with ease. They almost topped this great bit of play with a goal as Jesus Navas sprinted into the box, coming in from the right wing, and running at David De Gea who spread himself wide to stop the shot from becoming the goal to break the deadlock. It only took 8 minutes for the visitors to get something that mirrored their good start and that came after David Silva was left in a lot of space down the left hand side. He ran at goal on an angle, causing De Gea to run across to try and smother his shot, but the Spaniard instead chose to square the ball across the six yard box to Sergio Aguero who effectively ended his goal drought by slotting the ball into the empty net.
This seemed to be the thing that United needed to get their game going though. After a poor free kick from United, they ball was played back to De Gea who wasted no time in putting the ball back up the pitch and into Ander Herrera who was able to put a dangerous cross into the ball that Ashley Young was first to. His first shot wasn't hit well, but he got a second chance to put the ball into the back of the net as the City defenders struggled to get anywhere near the ball. He made no mistake on his second try, and from point blank range powered the ball into the back of the net, giving Joe Hart no chance of getting to the ball.
This didn't stop City playing their pressing game though and they had a couple of moments where they caught out the United defence. Unluckily for them, no real chances were made when this happened, and United took this chance to take the lead in the game. Young played a big part in this goal as well as he was allowed time and space on the ball just outside of the box. He put in an inch perfect cross to Marouane Fellaini at the far post who headed the ball downwards into the back of the net, again giving the keeper little chance of preventing it. Gael Clichy possibly had a chance to prevent the goal, but didn't get close enough to his man to put in a real challenge.
United did have a penalty shout not long after their goal had been scored. Fellaini had once again won a header to set up Wayne Rooney in a good position in the box, but couldn't get it under control. The ball then bounced up and appeared to bounce off the arm of Martin Demichelis. However, in the build-up to this, Fellaini had been caught offside, much to the relief of the City defenders. They almost used this to their advantage as well, as James Milner had a chance at the other end. He was outside of the box when the ball came to him, and chose not to push further forward and take the shot while he had space around him, but it was a wild swing and the ball flew well over the crossbar.
Minutes before the half time whistle blew; City had another heart in mouth moment as their captain slid in strongly with a tackle on Daley Blind. The tackle appeared to be high on Blind's leg and Vincent Kompany went in with his studs first. After a talk with his linesman, the referee decided that it was only a yellow card for the skipper. Again, it was really for the City camp, but everyone knew it could quite easily have been a dismissal, quite possibly the reason he was removed at the beginning of the second half?
The City defence had struggled during the first half with the likes of Fellaini and Young. They had allowed Fellaini in particular way too much room and Yaya Toure and Kompany just could not get tight on him. He looked unplayable in the United midfield, and this carried on through the second half as the defence still didn't pick him up in dangerous situations.
United remained strong during the second half as well, pressing City high and not allowing them to see much of the ball. In the 53rd minute, United had a number of chances to extend their lead, which started with a free kick taken by Rooney which Hart got across to save well, but he could only parry the ball back into the box and a few United players managed to get their boot to the ball and aim a shot on target without being able to actually find the net. It was scrappy, but the defenders did well to smother all of the chances that they did.
It took until the 67th minute for another goal to bring the stadium to life once again. Fellaini won the ball in midfield after making a run back in from a forward position, effectively bringing Demichelis out of his defensive position at the same time. Rooney held the ball up well and slipped it across to Juan Mata who was able to run into the space that Demichelis had left for him. He ran at Hart and slotted the ball through the keeper's legs and into the bottom corner. Mata had ran offside just as Rooney played the ball to him, but the linesman didn't spot this, allowing the goal to stand.
City looked ready for the game to end at this point, and the players looked like a team that hadn't won in a long time, which contrasted against the confident performance that the home side continued to perform.
United continued to pile misery on the defence as the game continued as well; in the last quarter of an hour in the game, United won another free kick in a dangerous position. Young stepped up to take it, and again provided a wonderful cross that found Chris Smalling free at the far post as he powerfully headed the ball into the back of the net. Once again though, the City defence could have been the cause of their own downfall. Most of the defenders were holding a high line as the free kick was taken, but Eliaquim Mangala stepped up too late, playing Smalling onside.
The game still wasn't over though. With five minutes left of the game Aguero managed to provide some light for his team once again as he pulled back another goal. Pablo Zabaleta burst into the box to win the ball and pull his cross back towards the penalty box where Aguero was waiting to hit his shot on target. De Gea did get a hand to it, but couldn't get enough on it to stop the ball from hitting the back of the net and gifting the striker with his 100th goal for City.
The favourites going into the game came out on top, and gave a winner's performance as they collected the three points that kept them in sight of the leaders, Chelsea, who they face on Saturday. City though are now in fourth, four points behind United in third, and look to be down and out of the title challenge all together now. Instead, the talk has turned to how long their manager will last following this poor run of results including losses to some of their biggest rivals. Only time will tell, but for the team in blue, time is something they don't have much left of.
It was certainly City that started the brightest. They were pressing United high up the pitch and wouldn't let their opposition get a foothold in the game as they looked to pass the ball with ease. They almost topped this great bit of play with a goal as Jesus Navas sprinted into the box, coming in from the right wing, and running at David De Gea who spread himself wide to stop the shot from becoming the goal to break the deadlock. It only took 8 minutes for the visitors to get something that mirrored their good start and that came after David Silva was left in a lot of space down the left hand side. He ran at goal on an angle, causing De Gea to run across to try and smother his shot, but the Spaniard instead chose to square the ball across the six yard box to Sergio Aguero who effectively ended his goal drought by slotting the ball into the empty net.
This seemed to be the thing that United needed to get their game going though. After a poor free kick from United, they ball was played back to De Gea who wasted no time in putting the ball back up the pitch and into Ander Herrera who was able to put a dangerous cross into the ball that Ashley Young was first to. His first shot wasn't hit well, but he got a second chance to put the ball into the back of the net as the City defenders struggled to get anywhere near the ball. He made no mistake on his second try, and from point blank range powered the ball into the back of the net, giving Joe Hart no chance of getting to the ball.
This didn't stop City playing their pressing game though and they had a couple of moments where they caught out the United defence. Unluckily for them, no real chances were made when this happened, and United took this chance to take the lead in the game. Young played a big part in this goal as well as he was allowed time and space on the ball just outside of the box. He put in an inch perfect cross to Marouane Fellaini at the far post who headed the ball downwards into the back of the net, again giving the keeper little chance of preventing it. Gael Clichy possibly had a chance to prevent the goal, but didn't get close enough to his man to put in a real challenge.
United did have a penalty shout not long after their goal had been scored. Fellaini had once again won a header to set up Wayne Rooney in a good position in the box, but couldn't get it under control. The ball then bounced up and appeared to bounce off the arm of Martin Demichelis. However, in the build-up to this, Fellaini had been caught offside, much to the relief of the City defenders. They almost used this to their advantage as well, as James Milner had a chance at the other end. He was outside of the box when the ball came to him, and chose not to push further forward and take the shot while he had space around him, but it was a wild swing and the ball flew well over the crossbar.
Minutes before the half time whistle blew; City had another heart in mouth moment as their captain slid in strongly with a tackle on Daley Blind. The tackle appeared to be high on Blind's leg and Vincent Kompany went in with his studs first. After a talk with his linesman, the referee decided that it was only a yellow card for the skipper. Again, it was really for the City camp, but everyone knew it could quite easily have been a dismissal, quite possibly the reason he was removed at the beginning of the second half?
The City defence had struggled during the first half with the likes of Fellaini and Young. They had allowed Fellaini in particular way too much room and Yaya Toure and Kompany just could not get tight on him. He looked unplayable in the United midfield, and this carried on through the second half as the defence still didn't pick him up in dangerous situations.
United remained strong during the second half as well, pressing City high and not allowing them to see much of the ball. In the 53rd minute, United had a number of chances to extend their lead, which started with a free kick taken by Rooney which Hart got across to save well, but he could only parry the ball back into the box and a few United players managed to get their boot to the ball and aim a shot on target without being able to actually find the net. It was scrappy, but the defenders did well to smother all of the chances that they did.
It took until the 67th minute for another goal to bring the stadium to life once again. Fellaini won the ball in midfield after making a run back in from a forward position, effectively bringing Demichelis out of his defensive position at the same time. Rooney held the ball up well and slipped it across to Juan Mata who was able to run into the space that Demichelis had left for him. He ran at Hart and slotted the ball through the keeper's legs and into the bottom corner. Mata had ran offside just as Rooney played the ball to him, but the linesman didn't spot this, allowing the goal to stand.
City looked ready for the game to end at this point, and the players looked like a team that hadn't won in a long time, which contrasted against the confident performance that the home side continued to perform.
United continued to pile misery on the defence as the game continued as well; in the last quarter of an hour in the game, United won another free kick in a dangerous position. Young stepped up to take it, and again provided a wonderful cross that found Chris Smalling free at the far post as he powerfully headed the ball into the back of the net. Once again though, the City defence could have been the cause of their own downfall. Most of the defenders were holding a high line as the free kick was taken, but Eliaquim Mangala stepped up too late, playing Smalling onside.
The game still wasn't over though. With five minutes left of the game Aguero managed to provide some light for his team once again as he pulled back another goal. Pablo Zabaleta burst into the box to win the ball and pull his cross back towards the penalty box where Aguero was waiting to hit his shot on target. De Gea did get a hand to it, but couldn't get enough on it to stop the ball from hitting the back of the net and gifting the striker with his 100th goal for City.
The favourites going into the game came out on top, and gave a winner's performance as they collected the three points that kept them in sight of the leaders, Chelsea, who they face on Saturday. City though are now in fourth, four points behind United in third, and look to be down and out of the title challenge all together now. Instead, the talk has turned to how long their manager will last following this poor run of results including losses to some of their biggest rivals. Only time will tell, but for the team in blue, time is something they don't have much left of.
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