MAN UNITED 1, MAN CITY 0
Manchester United defeated their rivals to win through to the quarter finals of the EFL Cup and a home tie against West Ham.
Juan Mata scored the only goal of the game to provide some much-needed cheer for the Reds after a run of indifferent results.
While the red half of Manchester had something to smile about, that was far from the case at City.
They are now six games without a win, the worst run of Pep Guardiola’s seven years as a manager.
And what a contrast to their electrifying start to the season in which they won 10 straight games.
Guardiola explained his approach had not changed from the early part of the season.
He said: “Every team has stretches of good and bad results and, after seven years as a manager, mine is happening now.
“We need to improve, and we will.”
What United manager Jose Mourinho made of the game, nobody will ever know as he ducked the post-match press conference.
It was clear from the starting line ups that Mourinho, with only one victory in his four previous matches, viewed it more as a must-win game, even though City has a far worse record..
The United manager fielded seven of the side that kicked off Sunday’s Premier League game at Chelsea and included most of his big hitters.
Guardiola, meanwhile, made wholesale changes – nine from the side that started against Southampton on Sunday.
Only Vincent Kompany and Leroy Sane remained while the side included youngsters Pablo Maffeo and Aleix Garcia.
Guardiola had all his big guns on the bench, however, the likes of Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan, though alongside them were youngsters Tosin Adarabioyo and Angus Gunn.
City made the brighter start and had the chance to take a first-minute lead when Kelechi Iheanacho’s diving header sailed over the crossbar from a Jesus Navas cross.
After that initial burst, the game settled into stalemate as each side cancelled out the other in a battle played predominantly in the middle of the park.
Indeed, the main action involved referee Mike Dean booking Iheanacho and Antonio Valencia for wild challenges.
United momentarily sparked to life when Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a shot from the edge of the box deflected over.
The Swede then split the defence for Marcus Rashford to burst through on goal but the striker delayed and his eventual shot was blocked.
Defences dominated and United’s Marcos Rojo made a brilliant block to deny Iheanacho who broke clear on the left.
City made a change at the restart as Vincent Kompany was replaced by Aleksandar Kolarov after City’s injury-plagued captain asked to be replaced as he complained of tiredness.
United almost broke the deadlock four minutes after the break when Ibrahimovic released Pogba whose shot was deflected on to the upright by the fingertips of City keeper Willy Caballero.
It finally came in the 34th minute after fine work in the build up by Ibrahimovic who crossed from the left. Ander Herrera went down under a challenge by Fernando Reges and appealed for a penalty.
As Mr Dean waved play on, the ball broke to Mata who swept home a low shot for his third goal of the season.
It was time for Guardiola to summon reinforcements and Sterling soon replaced Sane to try and provide the cutting edge that City lacked.
United made their first chance with 18 minutes left as goalscorer Mata was replaced by Morgan Schneiderlin.
Rashford, who appeared to have picked up a knock, came off with 10 minutes left as Jesse Lingard made his bow.
And Sterling was soon followed by Aguero who came on for Nolito.
United, in fairness, managed the latter stages of the game superbly as they were never in any danger of conceding an equaliser.
And at the final whistle there was a warm embrace between the two managers, further evidence that an alleged rift has been healed.