Two Edin Dzeko goals helped Manchester City to a 3-0 derby win at United, lifting them to second in the Premier League.
The
Bosnia striker was selected ahead of Alvaro Negredo by City boss Manuel
Pellegrini for the tussle at Old Trafford and was on the scoresheet
after just 42 seconds.
Best of the match
- Man of the Match: Fernandinho was named
best in show by Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville. The Brazil
midfielder boasted a 91% pass accuracy.
- Goal of the Match: Edin Dzeko looked to
be dozing on Samir Nasri's 56th-minute corner but his sudden burst to
the near post left Rio Ferdinand snoozing instead. His connection for
the goal was sweet too.
- Moment of the Match: Juan Mata should
have done better shortly before the break after Rafael crossed in from
the right, but he blazed the ball over the bar.
- Controversy of the Match: Marouane
Fellaini was in possession of the ball, but then senselessly led with
his elbow into Pablo Zabaleta. Referee Michael Oliver only brandished a
yellow card, however.
- Talking Point: David Moyes keeps talking
about the future, but what about the present? United are now guaranteed
to end the season with their lowest points total in Premier League
history.
United's defence was in disarray as Fernandinho passed left for Samir
Nasri, and although the Frenchman's shot hit the post, the lurking
Dzeko netted from close range.
It took at least 15 minutes for the hosts to settle but even before
the half-hour mark, both Danny Welbeck and Marouane Fellaini were
somewhat fortunate to only receive yellow cards for challenges on Pablo
Zabaleta - particularly the Belgian, who appeared to elbow the City
full-back.
Juan Mata passed up a great chance to equalise towards the end of the
first half, but it took just 11 minutes after the restart for Dzeko to
score again for City.
He timed his run brilliantly to beat Rio Ferdinand and connect with a corner from Nasri, the ball flying past David de Gea.
United could not find a response and were punished even further when Yaya Toure snaked in a third in the 90th minute.
David Moyes' men slip 15 points behind their near neighbours in the
table, after suffering a sixth home league defeat of the campaign. Title
contenders City now lie just three points behind leaders Chelsea, with
two games in hand.
Moyes made four changes to the team that won 2-0 at West Ham.
Ferdinand returned after a back injury, while Patrice Evra, Welbeck and
Tom Cleverley also started. Dropping to the bench were Alex Buttner,
Darren Fletcher, Shinji Kagawa and Ashley Young. Antonio Valencia was
also among the substitutes; there was no sign of Nani or Adnan Januzaj,
however.
Following City's 5-0 home win over Fulham on Saturday, Pellegrini
also made four changes. Vincent Kompany was free to skipper the side
again after suspension, and Gael Clichy, Jesus Navas and Dzeko lined up
alongside him. Joleon Lescott, Alexander Kolarov, James Milner and
Negredo were benched.
Moyes aspires to City level
In his programme notes, Moyes said United were not as far behind City
in terms of quality as the table suggested - but that theory was shot
to bits in the opening minute.
Toure sliced open the home defence to find David Silva, who would
have put City ahead had it not been for a decisive intervention from
Rafael. If United thought the trouble had passed, then they were wrong.
The cleared ball fell to Fernandinho, who found Nasri in acres of space
in the box. The Frenchman's shot beat a stationary De Gea and the ball
fell to Dzeko, who was left with the simplest of tap-ins.
Pellegrini revels in win
For the rest of the opening quarter, United simply could not get hold
of the ball. Silva penetrated the defence but fluffed his shot from 12
yards. Dzeko slid the ball across the box, but Rafael was there to
intercept again.
Silva snuck in behind the United back four again and squared for
Dzeko, who placed his shot towards the bottom right-hand corner, but De
Gea stuck out a hand and saved.
Joe Hart was twice called into action, but only to save weak shots from Wayne Rooney and Fellaini.
Dzeko and Fernandinho reaction
Fellaini then blotted his copy book by elbowing Zabaleta. He was lucky to get away with a booking.
On 40 minutes, Rafael's low cross missed Rooney before finding the
feet of Mata - only for the Spaniard to blaze his shot over the bar.
Moyes brought on Kagawa for Cleverley at the break but it had no effect on the game.
Fernandinho headed over from six yards, but Dzeko made no such
mistake soon after. Ferdinand was left in Dzeko's wake as Nasri's corner
came into the box and he steered the ball past De Gea.
United threatened through Welbeck, whose backheel was saved by Hart from point-blank range.
After a flurry of substitutions, Toure drove the ball beyond De Gea from 16 yards to wrap up the win in the final minute.
