Manchester City 0, Manchester United 2
Manchester United were party poopers yet again as they beat ‘unstoppable’ Manchester City at the Etihad with goals by Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnited boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also became the first manager to ever win 3 successive away games against a Pep Guardiola side – with City only losing one other game at the Etihad since December 2019.
City’s much vaunted 21 game winning run (28 unbeaten) came to a shuddering halt at the hands of rivals United who fully deserved their win to stop the Blues from setting a new club record of 29 games unbeaten.
Instead, United extended their own unbeaten away record to 22 games.
The title may be coming to the Etihad this season – City are still 11 points clear of the Reds with 10 games to go – but Solskjaer became the only manager have beaten City boss Pep Guardiola more times than he has been beaten by the Spaniard (4 vs 3).
And the three points earned today for United lifted them into second, eight points clear of Everton in 5th in the race for Champions League football next season although the Toffees have two games in hand.
Goals by Bruno Fernandes (from the penalty spot) and Luke Shaw early in both halves put Manchester City on the back foot and although Rodri hit the woodwork just before half time City were sluggish and were let down by surprisingly poor passing accuracy by the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Raheem Sterling.
Ederson pulled off a series of saves to keep City in the game but Pep Guardiola’s side were off the pace all day, perhaps finally the punishing schedule finally caught up with the Blues who found it impossible to get past some resolute defending by United as they wasted chance after chance to get back in the game in the second half.
It was the first time that City had been behind in a game since the 2-0 defeat at Spurs, and the first time that the Blues had trailed by more than a goal since the 2-5 home defeat to Leicester City in September.
City boss Pep Guardiola was circumspect about the defeat but was keen to use it as a wake-up call for City for games to come – starting with Wednesday’s game against Southampton. He said:
“United punished us with an incredible high press and counter attack.
“We played much better than the game against West Ham – they deserved more than they got.
“In our desire to do things well we started badly against United, but even after 0-2 we conceded few counter attacks.
“This will be a good lesson.”
He added: “This result will help us understand how difficult it is to win. There’s still 30 points to play for and we look to the next game.
“We could not be clinical up front, congratulations United.”
The last statement will give more clues than ever that City could be looking for that clinical striker in the summer as City ended up having 23 shots against the Reds – but only 6 were on target and none of those were converted despite the home side having 66% of possession.
United boss Solskjaer was delighted with United’s return to second spot with a great performance after the bore draw at Selhurst Park in midweek but he played down suggestions that United could close the gap completely and chase City down for the title this term.
He said: “We just take one game at a time. They are too far ahead to think that we can catch them. Even today they put you under so much pressure.
“When you come away with a performance like this you are delighted.
“I didn’t like us coming into half time playing like that but we were much better in the second half.
“Every game is different, we went back to what it is that makes us best.”
United may have been at their counter attacking best today but they were reliant on an improved Anthony Martial today who won the penalty and occupied City’s defenders.
“I thought Anthony was very good today – more like the Anthony of old. I thought he was unplayable today, he has rediscovered himself.
“But we had to defend well. No team has got a chance against City with being a collective. You have defend really well and be positive on the ball.”
And the Norwegian was also delighted with the performance of Dean Henderson, adding:
“He’s got a future as a top top keeper.”
Manchester City winning streak brought to an end at the hands of Manchester United
City made 3 changes to the side that beat Wolves in midweek – Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, and Bernardo Silva were replaced by John Stones, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Ilkay Gundogan.
Dean Henderson started his first Manchester derby after David De Gea’s run of 19 Premier League starts in a row was ended when he was granted paternity leave to visit Spain for the birth of his child.
Edinson Cavani wasn’t involved today, and Eric Bailly, Nemanja Matic, and Mason Greenwood started on the bench as they were replaced by Anthony Martial, Victor Lindelof, Scott McTominay, and Daniel James in four changes in all.
Records were going to tumble today but one was toppled within two minutes of the start of the game.
Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty within 35 seconds after Martial was brought down by Gabriel Jesus, who was trying to atone for an earlier error, and Bruno Fernandes stepped up to score past Ederson who got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep the ball out as Fernandes hit his 23rd goal of the season to end City’s record run of not going behind in games.
It was the first time City had been behind in a Premier League game since November against Spurs and the earliest goal scored at the Etihad in the Premier League – timed at 101 seconds.
Luke Shaw also shot straight at Ederson after Cancelo was robbed while trying to get the ball out of his own area in a shock start for City as United could have been 2-0 up within 4 minutes.
City had barely any chance to get the ball into the United box – De Bruyne’s pass was wayward as the Blues looked languid and couldn’t get their passing game going for 15 minutes.
Ederson saved again, this time from Marcus Rashford, after De Bruyne gave the ball away.
Jesus and Rodri saw shots blocked while Sterling went down in the United area under a challenge from Fred only for Anthony Taylor to wave away his appeal for a penalty.
Zinchenko had a shot saved by Henderson as City improved but too many attacks were being ended by poor passing from De Bruyne who was uncharacteristically in poor form with a succession of wasted passes.
The Belgian wasn’t the only player misplacing passes though, as crucial balls from Gundogan and Sterling were overhit.
Gundogan shot straight at Henderson as City continued to increase the tempo towards the end of the first half.
United had few chances as City took control, with Stones calmly coming across to intercept a ball for Fred and Daniel James starting a counter attack which was eventually wasted by Fernandes with a shot well wide.
Fred hauled down Rodri in a decent shooting position dead centre 25 yards out in front of the D but De Bruyne’s free kick was tipped over by Henderson.
And right at the end of the half Jesus arrived too late to convert a right wing cross/shot by Riyad Mahrez.
Rodri hit the post after the restart with a rising shot set up by Jesus with a lay off as City continued to improve but the Reds doubled their lead after Luke Shaw raced upfield after getting the ball thrown out from Henderson, exchanging passes with Rashford before rifling home from 15 yards out as he cut inside in the 50th minute.
Ederson had to save a header from Martial who had the chance to get United 3-0 up as City struggled to cope again with the counter attacks while Mahrez shanked a De Bruyne corner high and wide.
Kyle Walker replaced Joao Cancelo in the first change in the fame after 66 minutes but Ederson was at hand to save from Martial after McTominay was fouled by Dias and the loose ball ran on to the French forward.
Phil Foden replaced the downcast Jesus after 71 minutes while Rashford went off for treatment on an injury and was ultimately replaced by Greenwood after 73 minutes.
Foden’s brand of one touch passing gave City more urgency but his trademark turn and shot was wide of the back post with Henderson stranded with 15 minutes to go.
Walker’s cross was perfectly paced with 10 minutes to go but Sterling produced an air shot with the goal at his mercy after Victor Lindelof missed the chance to clear it.
And Foden trapped the ball under his feet from a Mahrez cross but Greenwood got back to clear it as United survived another scare before Stones had a chance which a header which he put wide.
De Bruyne, who eventually carved out a record equalling eight chances in a game against United, crossed for Sterling late on but the winger headed wide when the ball arrived and it only went downhill for City after that as Aguero was left on the bench with the game beyond the home side as United made defensive changes to hold on to their lead.
GOALS – Manchester City 0, Manchester United 2
Man City 0, Man Utd 1: 2. Bruno Fernandes scored from the penalty spot after Gabriel Jesus had fouled Anthony Martial inside the City penalty area after just 35 seconds.
Man City 0, Man Utd 2: 50. Luke Shaw ran upfield, exchanged passes with Marcus Rashford before cutting inside and rifling home from 15 yards out.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 0, Manchester United 2
Man City: Ederson, Cancelo, (Walker 66) Stones, Dias, Zinchenko, De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan, Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus (Foden 70)
Man City subs not used: Steffen, Aguero, Laporte, Bernardo Silva, Torres, Mendy, Fernandinho
Man Utd: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, James, Fernandes (Williams 90+3), Rashford (Greenwood 73), Martial (Matic 88)
Man Utd subs not used: Grant, Bailly, Diallo, Telles, Tuanzebe, Shoretire
Bookings: Maguire 32 (foul on Gabriel Jesus); Shaw 58 (foul on Riyad Mahrez); Henderson 61 (time wasting)
Goals: Fernandes (pen) 2; Shaw 50
Referee: Anthony Taylor