THERE WAS NO title on the line at Old Trafford this afternoon but there was still plenty to play for in the 169th Manchester Derby.
It was United against City, red versus blue and third versus fourth.
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Hello and welcome to The42′s coverage of the stand-out Premier League fixture of the weekend as Manchester United welcome bitter rivals Manchester City to the Theatre of Dreams. Kick-off is at 4pm.
The teams are in and the big news is that Vincent Kompany, despite suggestions during the week he would miss out through injury, will start for the visitors.
United, meanwhile, make one change to the side that beat Aston Villa last week with Chris Smalling coming in for Marcos Rojo.
Before the action begins, here’s a selection of our pre-match reading material to get you in the mood:
- The Goat, Kanchelskis and other unlikely heroes from past Manchester derbies
- Van Gaal and United ‘dreaming’ of sharpening City’s pain during derby of high stakes
- ‘Welcome to Manchester’: The Top 6 City/United derby moments
- Reinvention or departure? What now for Van Persie at Manchester United?
- How the once-maligned Marouane Fellaini is key to Man United’s resurgence
Less than twelve months ago, City bullied the hosts at Old Trafford as they ran out 3-0 winners to edge a step closer to the title. The result left David Moyes’ side languishing 15 points behind their near neighbours.
While this season hasn’t exactly been exactly plain sailing for Louis van Gaal, United have clicked into gear at the perfect time and have won their last five outings in the Premier League.
Conversely, City have lost three out of their last four games in all competitions and Monday’s defeat at Crystal Palace all but ended their title challenge. How the fortunes of these two bitter rivals has changed in the last few months.
Both Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao are named on the United bench while Nasri, Lampard and Edin Dzeko are the attacking options available to Pellegrini.
United subs: Valdes, Rafael, Rojo, McNair, Januzaj, Di Maria, Falcao.
City subs: Caballero, Mangala, Kolarov, Fernando, Nasri, Lampard, Dzeko.
Pellegrini has told Sky Sports his captain, Vincent Kompany, is fully fit after coming through the last couple of days unscathed. Pablo Zabaleta returns to the defence in a straight swap for Bacary Sagna while James Milner is also recalled.
“James is always an important player for us, he has the ability to play in different positions like as a midfielder and as a striker. He was not 100% in the last game with his knee, which is why he only played a few minutes, but I hope he will return to the team today and give a good performance.”
Both teams are out on the pitch and we’re just waiting for the formalities to be completed. Any last-minute predictions? Red or blue?
The hosts get us underway, playing from left to right with City attacking the Stretford End in this first-half.
Nervous start from Kompany as he slices one into touch. As you can imagine, there’s a raucous atmosphere at Old Trafford with United looking to get on the front foot from the outset.
Joe Hart is quickly off his line to gather a through ball intended for Rooney. At the other end, Silva’s low cross is hacked clear by Smalling with no blue shirts in or around the six yard area.
CHANCE! Martin Demichelis’ clearance is latched onto by Jesus Navas down the right as City start brightly but the winger’s effort is saved by De Gea.
GOAL! Man United 0-1 Man City (Aguero)
After a period of relentless pressure on the United goal, the visitors hit the front. Milner’s reverse ball creates the opening for Silva and he had acres of space to pick out the unmarked Aguero who made no mistake.
GOAL! Man United 1-1 Man City (Young)
Out of nothing, United are level. De Gea’s clearance is knocked down for Mata by Fellaini and after working it well down the left, the ball falls kindly for Young to fire home from close range despite Clichy’s initial challenge.
Breathless stuff at Old Trafford. Despite their equaliser, the hosts are still all over the place at the back. Firstly, De Gea had to scramble to clear a back pass from Blind and then Carrick was required to thwart Silva when the Spaniard was setting his sights on goal.
Aguero has now scored in the last four Manchester derbies and he looks in the mood for more here today. After an end-to-end start, the game has just settled down somewhat in the last few minutes with both sides catching their breath.
First booking of the day goes to James Milner for a rather cynical tug of Ander Herrera’s shirt. Herrera has started brightly and is finding pockets of space in an otherwise congested engine room.
From the resulting free-kick, Young’s delivery is directed toward Fellaini but his knock down is cleared.
GOAL! Man United 2-1 Man City (Fellaini)
United have turned it around! Blind and Young combine down the left before the England international whips in a cross which picks out the incoming Fellaini at the back post with Clichy napping.
David Silva goes into the book for a late challenge on his Spanish team mate, Juan Mata. United are rampant now down that left flank with Zabaleta unable to contain Young and the overlapping Blind.
The rain has returned and the complexion of this game has changed. City were purposeful from the off and looked in ominous mood but United have stormed back and continue to cause Kompany and co untold problems.
Mata floats in a pinpoint cross towards Fellaini but after winning the header, the United midfielder is flagged offside.
For the first time since United took the lead, the visitors work an opening but after Aguero slips Milner in down the left, the England international skies his effort into the Stretford End.
City just coming back into proceedings now with Aguero providing their most dangerous outlet. With Silva completely unmarked in the centre, the Argentine striker was unable to shake off Valencia and the opportunity is gone.
Kompany slides in rashly with his studs up, leaving Blind rolling around in agony. After consulting with his assistant, Mark Clattenburg decided the challenge only deserved a yellow.
HALF TIME Man United 2-1 Man City
That was absolutely absorbing stuff and it’s United who lead at the break. After conceding inside the opening ten minutes, Louis van Gaal will be delighted with his sides’ response.
Young levelled proceedings six minutes after Aguero’s opener before the turnaround was complete when Fellaini headed home Young’s cross shortly before the half hour mark.
If you missed any of that first-half, you can catch-up with all three goals here.
The teams are back out for the second-half but there is no Vincent Kompany. The City captain may well have been sent-off just before the interval but he’s been replaced by Eliaquim Mangala now.
Back underway at Old Trafford. Can City turn it around? The last time they won a Premier League game having trailed at the break was back in April 1995.
Just like the first period, City have come out of the traps quickly. Navas is freed down the right by Toure and when his cross falls to Silva in the box, the Spaniard is unable to bring it down and United are able to clear.
Wayne Rooney is furious with Mark Clattenburg for not awarding the United captain a free-kick but the referee then puts his whistle to his mouth as Mata is felled 30 yards from goal.
From the resulting free, Joe Hart scrambles across the claw Rooney’s effort away but United keep it alive through Young and after a game of pinball ensues, Carrick’s shot is straight at the ‘keeper.
Demichelis goes down after an aerial challenge with Fellaini and after going down holding his face, the defender jumps back to his feet once the referee stops play. City are adamant there was a flailing arm but Clattenburg isn’t interested.
Mata has pulled the strings throughout the opening hour and he plays another perfectly weighted cross in for Young at the back post but the linesman has his flag up on the far side.
City have enjoyed a good spell of possession in the last five minutes. Navas’ low cross was cut out by Smalling and then his defensive partner Phil Jones committed a rash foul in a dangerous position after bundling into the back of Milner.
That’s Milner last involvement as Pellegrini turns to his bench in search of an equaliser. Samir Nasri is introduced for the final third.
GOAL! Man United 3-1 Man City (Mata)
City are exposed down the left once again as Fellaini nicks the ball off Demichelis, Rooney exchanges passes with Mata and the Spanish international composes himself before finishing through the legs of Hart.
Old Trafford is jumping as United head for six straight Premier League wins but City have been on the wrong end of two offside decisions this afternoon.
GOAL! Man United 4-1 Man City (Smalling)
United are running riot! Young’s in-swinging set-piece is headed home by Smalling for his fourth league goal of the campaign.
Jesus Navas, who has been particularly poor this afternoon, is withdrawn for Frank Lampard and United make their first change with Jones making way for Rojo.
What a difference a year makes! Oles are ringing around Old Trafford as United string a succession of passes together as we enter the final ten minutes.
Juan Mata receives a standing ovation from the Stretford End as he makes way for Angel di Maria.
As much as their title challenge is now well and truly over, could City’s position in the top four be under threat down the final stretch? Southampton are five points behind with Liverpool and Tottenham a further two adrift.
The crowd are back on their feet as Fellaini trudges off with Radamel Falcao getting his first taste of the Manchester derby. A goal for the Colombian would surely be the icing on the cake for the hosts.
United will play the final few minutes with 10 men after Michael Carrick picks up a knock and can’t continue. Van Gaal has already used his three subs.
GOAL! Man United 4-2 Man City (Aguero)
Aguero brings up his century of goals for City with his second of the game. Zabaleta pulls it back for the striker to stroke home first time despite the best efforts of De Gea.
Into the final few minutes as United just look to see the game out now.
FULL TIME Man United 4-2 Man City
That’s it, bragging rights go to the red half of Manchester after an absorbing derby. United were well worth their victory as they extend their winning run to six games with Louis van Gaal’s side moving nine points clear of fifth-placed Southampton.
Make sure to stick around for the all the reaction to follow on the site throughout the evening.
