MAN CITY 3, MAN UTD 1
“Easy win against a mid-table team,” chortled a Manchester City fan as he left the Etihad following his side’s derby win against their neighbours from Old Trafford.
It was an accurate summary as table-topping City stretched their lead to 12 points over eighth-placed United with only 12 games completed.
Goals from David Silva, Sergio Aguero, and substitute Ilkay Gundogan ensured there was no slip similar to the one last season when their coronation as Premier League champions was delayed after they blew a 2-0 half-time advantage.
Though Anthony Martial’s penalty reduced the deficit to 2-1 to make it a more interesting contest for almost half an hour, United never seriously looked like staving off defeat and performing a repeat of last season’s dramatic 3-2 victory.
Indeed, Martial’s spot kick was the Reds’ only on-target goal attempt in the game as City, who have lost only three of their last 50 home league games, remain two points clear of second-placed Liverpool and four ahead of Chelsea who are third.
City manager Pep Guardiola admitted that last season’s home defeat to United preyed on their minds after Martial scored to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
“We thought about what happened last season, but after the goal we didn’t concede one chance and defended ever so well,” he explained.
Guardiola was not happy with his side’s first-half display, saying: “We played like we didn’t want to lose the ball and had no intensity to attack.
“In the second half we were much better and in the last 30 minutes we made a very good game.”
Guardiola is delighted that his played have maintained last season’s level of performance when they reached a record-breaking 100 points.
“The most important thing is not to have regrets. And if you lose, you can hold up your head and have no complaints about ourselves,” he continued.
United manager Jose Mourinho pointed to the fact City had three tough away games in the last week while City had three home ones.
He said: “They scored six goals in their last two games that needed no mental effort and they were nice and easy games.
“We played two difficult away games, the second one against one of the best teams in Europe and that demanded a lot physically and mentally.”
Mourinho added he doesn’t pay attention to statistics, but what he feels.
“What I saw was a game in which we were still there until minute 80 something,” he said.
Mourinho added it was not a bad performance from his team, but they were punished for mistakes.
He said: “We had the mentality, togetherness and fight to the end, something we are not going to lose because of the defeat.
“We are together and won’t be affected by this. We are improving, we are together.”
There was also a moment of humour when Mourinho was told his team are close to Cardiff at the bottom than City at the top.
“I don’t think we are going to be relegated,” he quipped.
City made two changes to the side that hit Shakhtar Donetsk for six in the Champions League in midweek.
Top scorer Aguero and left-back Benjamin Mendy returned as Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick against the Ukrainians, and Oleksandr Zinchenko lost out.
United were dealt a blow as Paul Pogba was ruled out through a knock picked up during the Champions League win in Turin against Juventus as his place went to Marouane Fellaini.
There was also a recall for Marcus Rashford for Alexis Sanchez who started in midweek.
Before battle commenced, there was a poignant tribute to the fallen from the First World War on the 100th anniversary of the armistice that signalled the end of the hostilities.
City ambassador Mike Summerbee and United director Sir Bobby Charlton laid a wreath before the game as the last post was greeted with an eerie silence, a contrast to the fervour that had preceded and followed immediately afterwards with an electrifying atmosphere inside the Etihad.
City began on the front foot carving out two decent chances inside the first four minutes.
Bernardo Silva’s shot whistled past the upright while Fernandinho’s effort rolled harmlessly wide.
And it was no surprise when David Silva made the breakthrough in the 12th minute against a statuesque Reds’ defence.
Raheem Sterling’s cross from the left to the far post was turned back across the face of goal by Bernardo Silva for his namesake to fire home his seventh goal of the season and in three consecutive home games.
In that time United had managed only 11 passes in 12 minutes – only five were successful – compared to City’s 104.
United hardly had a kick in the early stages and had to wait until the 26th minute before carving out their first clear-cut chance when Chris Smalling’s header looped just over the bar from a Jesse Lingard cross.
But as the half continued, United gradually eased their way into the game as City were far less dominant than the early one-sided proceedings.
City enjoyed 69-per-cent possession, had nine goal attempts to three, but David Silva’s goal was the only on-target effort of the half from either side.
United got off to the worst possible start to the second half conceding a second goal within three minutes of the restart.
Aguero exchanged passes with Riyad Mahrez and fired an unstoppable angled shot from six yards high into the far corner of the net.
It was his 11th goal of the season and eighth against United to draw level with Wayne Rooney as the record goalscorer in the derby.
And in Aguero’s last 14 Premier League games at the Etihad he had scored 18 goals and provided five assists, a staggering statistic.
It soon brought about a first change from Mourinho as Lukaku replaced Lingard.
And it paid an immediate dividend as after only 30 seconds Lukaku was brought down by keeper Ederson as he chased for possession close to the by-line, a needless challenge.
Martial scored from the spot sending the Brazilian keeper the wrong way from 12 yards and suddenly it was game back on.
City’s first change just after the hour was Leroy Sane for Mahrez, a straight swop out wide.
Mourinho played his last two cards with 17 minutes left as Juan Mata and Sanchez replaced Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford.
City’s second change after 75 minutes saw Aguero replaced by Gundogan.
And the German put the game to bed with four minutes left as he scored City’s third goal.
Gundogan eluded the United offside trap to latch on to Bernardo Silva’s cross and slot home from six yards.
City should also have been awarded a penalty after Smalling clearly shoved Sane in the chest as they challenged for a through ball, but referee Anthony Taylor waved play on to the amazement of home fans.
Teenager Phil Foden was given his first derby appearance in stoppage time as he replaced David Silva.
And in stoppage time there was some champagne football and showboating from City as they rubbed salt into the proverbial wounds of a derby defeat for the Reds who look to have a Titanic struggle ahead to achieve a top-four finish.