Manchester United were handed a reality check yesterday as bitter rivals Manchester City tore them to shreds in a dominant 4-1 victory.
The season’s first derby was one to forget for Reds’ boss David Moyes who was out-thought by his opposite number Manuel Pellegrini.
The Blues shot out of the blocks and dominated possession immediately; contrarily, United looked flat, one-dimensional and completely bereft of answers to City’s power.
The Eastland’s side were rewarded for their early dominance when super-striker Sergio Aguero smashed home a volley in imperious style—breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute.
The Blues’ Argentine talisman has now scored five goals in his six derby appearances further improving his credentials as a ‘big game player’.
United were subjected to a barrage of attacks from the Citizens who dominated the ball for the majority of the first half.
It wasn’t until the half-hour mark that United managed to gain some form of composure and string a succession of passes together.
However, any glimmer of hope that United may have had was snatched from them as City capitalized on the Reds’ shambolic defending from a corner.
Chris Smalling lost an initial header and Yaya Toure was able to evade the clueless Marouane Fellaini to turn the ball home on the stroke of half time
At the break Reds fans would have expected Moyes to give his own rendition of the ‘hair-dryer’ treatment to galvanise his troops and turn the game around.
However, United were immediately caught cold at the back just after the restart as Aguero pounced on a Negredo cross and the number 16 volleyed the ball powerfully the net.
United’s misery was compounded a few minutes later when new signing Jesus Navas was given space down the right hand side and provided the perfect delivery for the oncoming Samir Nasri who calmly slid the ball through David de Gea legs.
The introduction of Tom Cleverly for the woeful Ashley Young gave United some semblance of shape and the Reds were finally able to make an impact on the game – albeit too late.
Shortly after changing tactics the away-side formulated their first real chance of the game which the in-form Wayne Rooney squandered over the bar.
United were able to take one positive from the defeat as England international Wayne Rooney struck a superb consolation free-kick on the 87th minute.
The immaculate free-kick was Rooney’s 11th goal in a Manchester derby – making the striker the highest ever goalscorer in the fixture.
However, the goal will be little consolation for Red’s fans who watched their closest rivals make a statement of intent while their own team looked in desperate need of major surgery.
Image courtesy of Yahoo UK, with thanks.
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