MAN CITY 0, MAN UNITED 0
The goalless draw in the 173rd Manchester derby leaves the battle for fourth place in the Premier League wide open.
It was a game dominated by fourth-placed City – 19 chances to United’s three – but they were again wasteful in front of goal.
United, unbeaten in 24 league games, remain fifth but have third-placed Liverpool in their sights as Jose Mourinho did another excellent job at stifling opponents.
Whereas the Reds defeated Chelsea recently, they had to settle for one point this time. And having to see the game out with 10 men after Marouane Fellaini’s sending off, they were more reason to be cheerful.
United’s manager admitted “this can be an important point” in the battle for Champions League football.
He thought a draw was a fair reflection of the game: “I think so because of our amazing spirit because of our very good first half.
“We controlled easily the defensive part of the game and was always a threat on the counter attack and had two good chances to score.
“They were stronger than us un the second half, but we coped brilliantly, but didn’t create chances.”
And after Fellaini’s dismissal, he praised his players saying their spirit was “amazing”.
Mourinho added United, who also lost substitute Tim Fosu-Mensah through injury, will fight for fourth place until it is mathematically impossible to get the last Champions League spot.
City manager Pep Guardiola thought the game mirrored many others in the campaign.
He said: “We have tried today and over the season to monopolise the ball.
“We tried so we have to look why we were not able to win. We tried, but it was not good enough.”
Guardiola added that the fight for a top-four place remains in their own hands.
He continued: “We have five games left, three at home and two away, and they will all be battles like today.
“When you look at the chances we have created and chances scored it is low. That is why we have to fight a lot.”
City made three changes from Sunday’s FA Cup semi final as Jesus Navas, Gael Clichy and David Silva lost their places to be replaced by Pablo Zabaleta, Aleksandar Kolarov and Raheem Sterling.
There was also a welcome return on the bench for Brazilian Gabriel Jesus who had recovered from a broken metatarsal.
Mourinho made four alterations from the side that won at Burnley on Sunday as Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard, Wayne Rooney and the injured Paul Pogba made way for Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Rashford.
It was clear from the start that Mourinho was intent on doing a job on City as he had done in the win against leaders Chelsea.
There was no out-and-out striker with Mkhitaryan the false number nine with Rashford and Anthony Martial providing the pace out wide as they got at full-backs Zabaleta and Kolarov, City’s perceived weak links.
City ought to have taken a ninth-minute lead when Sergio Aguero’s near-post shot struck the outside of the upright as he latched on to Kevin De Bruyne’s low cross from the right.
United had their first clear-cut chance mid-half after City keeper Claudio Bravo needlessly palmed out a Martial cross.
The ball fell to Mkhitaryan whose goalbound shot was well kept out by the keeper who redeemed himself.
United keeper David De Gea made a spectacular save to keep out a 30-yard drive from Aguero following a break by Yaya Toure.
Aguero, with eight goals in his last 10 games against United, fired over from the edge of the box after turning Daley Blind as City began to create openings.
Next to have a go was Kolarov whose drive was turned round the post by De Gea diving low to his right.
Late in the half, Raheem Sterling found space to have a shot, but his effort cleared the crossbar.
United had a great chance to snatch a late in the 45th minute when Herrera stole in unmarked at the far post to meet Rashford’s free kick, but headed wide.
For all their possession and first-half chances – nine against two – City rarely threatened as United gave another highly disciplined display.
Sterling and Aguero both had gaal attempts early in the second half, but both were weak and did not trouble De Gea.
De Bruyne had an effort deflected into the side netting while Aguero snatched at a shot that cleared the crossbar.
Nicolas Otamendi also went close as his header from Leroy Sane’s corner was deflected over off the head of Eric Bailly.
There was drama when Bravo left the field on a stretcher with 11 minutes left after injuring his left calf claiming a cross and being caught by team-mate Otamendi in doing so.
He was replaced by Willy Caballero while Sane was replaced by Navas at the same time.
United also made their first change with Martial replaced by Lingard.
And was further drama when Fellaini was sent off. Seconds after being booked for a foul on Aguero, Fellaini chased after the striker who went down again.
As the pair squared up, Fellaini head butted Aguero leaving referee Martin Atkinson no option but to produce a straight red card.
That was followed by United bringing on Fosu-Mensah for Mkhitaryan and City sent on Jesus hoping for a miracle as he took over from Sterling.
And it so nearly worked in the first of six minutes of added time when Jesus headed home an Aguero cross from six yards, but the Brazilian had strayed offside.
It was City’s last chance as United, with all 10 men behind the ball, comfortably saw out the game as the battle for fourth place continues.