MAN UNITED 4, MAN CITY 2
Manchester United’s great revival continued as they piled on the misery for their rivals with a derby victory at Old Trafford.
While there was unbridled joy as United ended a run of fourth straight losses to City with a six straight league victory, it was an altogether different story for the blue half of Manchester.
This was City’s eighth defeat in their last 14 games in all competitions as the pressure intensified on manager Manuel Pellegrini whose side is now fourth with Southampton breathing down their necks for the last Champion League place.
It was a desperately disappointing display from City who conceded four goals in a Premier League game for the first time in 217 fixtures – ironically the last team to do so was United in September 2009 when they edged home 4-3.
United, whose last win against City was back in December 2012, strengthened their hold on third spot as they are now four points clear of United as they look set for a quick return to Champions League action in 2015/16.
They also showed character, grit and resilience after Sergio Aguero had given City an early lead. This was also the first time that United had won a game having conceded the opening goal, something which had happened on eight previous occasions in the current campaign.
United ended that sequence in style as Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata and Chris Smalling all found the net in what was a terrific all-round team display in which they defended resolutely and were always a threat going forward.
Manager Louis van Gaal described the derby victory as the best “feeling” since he became took charge last summer, though not the best result.
The Dutchman was not happy with his side’s start in which they fell behind as he likened it to the Burnley game.
But he was delighted with the way they fought back saying their second-half display was “fantastic”.
Van Gaal is also wary of going overboard about his side’s success saying: “We are at the four four points ahead of City which is a fact.
“There are still six matches to go and things can change again. We can enjoy ourselves today and tomorrow and then on Tuesday start preparing for Chelsea away on Saturday.
“We don’t win so many matches away and City are at home so may be after that the difference will be one point. It will be a rat run to the end.”
Pellegrini admitted United were the better side, though he was happy with the start they made.
“We started very well and in the first 20 minutes had chances to score more goals, but we needed to play like that for the full 90 minutes,” he explained.
Pellegrini would not comment on the increased pressure on his job, but admitted he shoulders responsibility for the team’s form.
Chris Smalling was preferred to Marcos Rojo in the centre of defence, the one change from the side which beat Aston Villa in their last match.
City, meanwhile, had two alterations from the starting line up on Monday at Crystal Palace where they lost as Bacary Sagna and Edin Dzeko lost out to Pablo Zabaleta and James Milner.
And it was City who nearly drew first blood in the sixth minute when Jesus Navas burst clear on the right only to see his angled drive blocked by the legs of keeper David De Gea.
United were forced into a number of desperate defensive blocks but were unable to prevent Aguero ending his goal drought in the eighth minute to give the visitors the lead.
Milner played in David Silva down the left and the Spaniard cut the ball back for Aguero to side foot home from four yards as he scored his first goal in 519 minutes and seven games since he last netted in the Champions League game against Barcelona. It was the Argentine’s 99th goal for City and his fifth goal in his last four games against United.
United were on level terms within six minute following a massive clearance from De Gea to Ander Herrera who crossed from the left for Young to pounce after a lucky rebound off Gael Clichy as the pair challenged for the ball as he scored only his second goal of the campaign.
And United went ahead in the 27th minute after a glorious move involving Mata, Blind and Young whose second involvement was a cross to the far post for Fellaini to squeeze a header past keeper Joe Hart for his sixth of the season for the Reds.
City captain Vincent Kompany, lucky not to be sent off just before half time for a scything challenge on Daley Blind, didn’t reappear for the second period as he was replaced by Eliaquim Mangala. He was suffering from a groin strain.
United came agonisingly close to a third goal when Wayne Rooney’s free kick, bent over the defensive wall, was brilliantly kept out by Hart while Michael Carrick’s goalbound follow-up shot was blocked.
It was United’s turn to then have a let off when television replays showed Fellaini led with his forearm to the cheek of Martin Demichelis, an incident which went unpunished.
United put more distance between themselves and City when they added a third goal midway through the half when Blind and Rooney linked to release Mata who slotted the ball low past Hart, though replays showed the Spaniard was clearly offside before he netted his ninth goal of the season.
And it got even better for United who added a fourth goal with 18 minutes left when Smalling headed in a free kick from Young. He, too, looked offside but replays showed that he was played on by Mangala before scoring his fourth of the season.
United ended with 10 men when Carrick limped off after the Reds had used all three substitutes.
And City seized on their numerical advantage when they reduced the deficit to 4-2 in the 89th minute when Pablo Zabaleta cut the ball back from the right for Aguero to fire home his 25th goal of the season and his 100th for the club.