Manchester United emerged victorious from Erik ten Hag’s first Manchester derby at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils beating Manchester City 2-1 on Saturday.
It was the visitors who looked set to take all three points up until the latter stages, but goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford transformed the course of the Premier League encounter, ensuring United won and moved to within a point of City in the table.
It was a quiet start at Old Trafford, despite the electric atmosphere inside the ground. City saw a lot of the ball early on but didn’t ask many questions of the United backline other than an Erling Haaland shot that was blocked.
In fact, inside the first half an hour the only chance of note was a Bruno Fernandes strike from the corner of the box that flashed wide. United offered a threat on the break in the first half and Rashord nearly broke the deadlock on 34 minutes when he skipped past Ederson, who came flying out of his box, but the subsequent strike was blocked by Manuel Akanji before Antony Martial’s header was comfortably held by Ederson.
The Brazilian stopper also flew out of his goal soon after to narrow the shooting angle for Rashford as he bore down on goal. The half ended with Kyle Walker going close from distance, the visitors’ best chance of the opening period.
City came out with more urgency and penetration in the second half and grabbed the opening goal on the hour mark as Kevin De Bruyne broke into the box and sent a cross into the six-yard box, with Jack Grealish perfectly placed to head past David de Gea.
Other than an Aaron Wan-Bissaka shot that deflected wide, United created little until Fernandes netted in the 79th minute in controversial circumstances. The Portugal international’s goal was initially ruled offside, until a VAR check determined it was legal. Marcus Rashford had been offside in the build-up and ran towards the ball, but as he didn’t make contact it was deemed onside, to the fury of City’s players.
And within minutes United were ahead. Again it was from a counter attack, with Alejandro Garnacho breaking in behind and, after his first cross was blocked, he picked out Rashford with the second. The in-form forward slid in and nudged it past Ederson to give United the lead.
City tried to vain to get a late equaliser, but failed to seriously test a well-organised United backline, who headed away repeated crosses into the box. Here’s how we rated the United players...
5. Tyrell Malacia- 8 (off 90+2)
Enjoyed a real battle up against Riyad Mahrez, one the Dutchman came out on top of. He was also smart in possession and rarely gave the ball away.
6. Casemiro- 7 (off 90+2)
Brought real control over midfield in the first half with his physical presence, although that waned at the start of the second half. The midfielder played a superb pass to set up Fernandes’ goal.
7. Fred- 8
Kept Kevin De Bruyne quiet for most of the first half, but found it more difficult after the break. Fred added plenty of energy to United’s midfield.
8. Bruno Fernandes- 7
Operated from the wide areas early on but pushed inside in the second half. Fernandes saved his best moments until the end, with a goal and a defence-splitting pass in the build-up to Rashford’s goal.