Manchester United 2, Manchester City 0
Manchester United comprehensively beat rivals Manchester City in their first game under new head coach Michael Carrick.
Goals by Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu did the damage although the Reds had the ball in the back of the net on three other occasions only for VAR to intervene for offside while Harry Maguire and Amad both hit the woodwork in a comprehensive win for the Reds.
United should have scored in the first half through Harry Maguire, Amad, and Bruno Fernandes, while Amad and Casemiro were also denied by Gigi Donnarumma before Mbeumo broke the deadlock.
City, who had to name a makeshift defence with Matheus Nunes ruled out with flu, were saved by some decisive goalkeeping by Gigi Donnarumma who made a couple of clearances and saved from Patrick Dorgu after Harry Maguire had headed a corner from Bruno Fernandes against the crossbar from close range at the back post.
The Reds ought to have been down to ten men after 11 minutes though as Jeremy Doku was taken out by a reckless high challenge from Diogo Dalot for which only a yellow card was given.
United almost profited twice from long balls in the first half.
Bruno Fernandes delayed his pass to find Amad who rounded Donnarumma and fired home only for a late offside flag to go up after 34 minutes.
Max Alleyne had a header cleared off the line before Bruno Fernandes got on the end of a long ball forward, rounded Donnarumma, wrong footed Nathan Ake and slotted home only to be denied by the offside flag again.
Phil Foden and Max Alleyne were withdrawn at the break, replaced by Rayan Cherki and Nico O’Reilly as Pep Guardiola was first to make changes.
But United were queuing up after the restart when Dalot’s cross flew past three United attackers who could have tapped in in.
Amad and Casemiro were both denied by big saves from Donnarumma as United attacked with direct balls in the second half.
But the United eventually took the lead when City wasted a set piece effort and the Reds poured forward on a 4v2 break – Bruno Fernandes threaded the ball to Bryan Mbeumo and the United forward did the rest.
And United thought they had 3 in added time when Mason Mount swept home a square pass by Matheus Cunha seconds after coming on but a VAR check confirmed that was offside too.
The result was not in doubt though as United went up to fourth with victory – above Liverpool on goal difference, while City might now end the weekend 9 points behind league leaders Arsenal after no wins in 4 Premier League games.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 2, Manchester City 0
MAN UTD
Senne Lammens: 6. Little to do early on but saved Max Alleyne’s header.
Diogo Dalot: 6. Lucky to escape red card after nasty challenge on Jeremy Doku.
Harry Maguire: 7. Headed a corner against the crossbar in opening minutes. Fouled Erling Haaland to prevent him going round him.
Lisandro Martinez: 7. Blocked a shot by Erling Haaland. Little to trouble him.
Luke Shaw: 7. Solid defending, little ambition to get forward after early booking.
Casemiro: 7. Sat deep in midfield but when he ventured forward he was denied by Gigi Donnarumma. Also nicked the ball off Erling Haaland as he tried to go past him.
Kobbie Mainoo: 7. Some clumsy tackling but controlled midfield.
Amad: 7. Tricky wing play caused endless problems to Nathan Ake. Denied by Donnarumma and the post late in the game.
Bruno Fernandes: 8. Had a goal ruled out for clear offside. His through ball helped break the deadlock by releasing Bryan Mbeumo.
Patrick Dorgu: 7. Unlucky not to get past Abdudokir Khusanov earlier in the game but got in front of Rico Lewis to score the second goal for United.
Bryan Mbeumo: 7. Constant danger and distribution from deep but had ball nicked off him by Khusanov when he found himself in front of goal clean through. Also saw an effort saved by Donnarumma in the second half before he scored the opening goal
Matheus Cunha (on for Bryan Mbeumo, 71): 7. Got the better of Nico O’Reilly and cut the ball back for Patrick Dorgu to score the second United goal.
Manuel Ugarte (on for Casemiro, 81): No time to mark
MAN CITY
Gigi Donnarumma: 8. Plenty of action early doors, couple of clearances and a save from Patrick Dorgu. Saved from Amad and Casemiro in second half and a reaction save from Mbeumo. Beaten by Mbeumo in the middle of the second half.
Rico Lewis: 5. Inverted into midfield but little impact. Reacted slow to the danger when Patrick Dorgu got in front of him to score United’s second goal. Scooped a late effort over the bar.
Abdudokir Khusanov: 7. Almost caught out by Patrick Dorgu. Nicked the ball off Bryan Mbeumo who was clean through and some good interceptions later.
Max Alleyne: 6. Took a little while to get up to derby speed but had a header cleared off the line. Sacrificed in half time tactical reshuffle.
Nathan Ake: 6. Tough time up against Amad and Bruno Fernandes at times. Shifted to centre back after the re-shuffle at half time.
Rodri: 6. Seemed to be targeted for some rough treatment. Some loose passing put City in danger.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Made a pest of himself, positional sense vital.
Phil Foden: 6. Some intricate work close to goal but not much end product and his set pieces were average.
Antoine Semenyo: 6. Quiet on the right flank – had a shot go wide of the back post. Went more central in the second half before going wide again, a mazy run in the second half went nowhere.
Jeremy Doku: 6. Taken out by Diogo Dalot, double teamed by defenders but did his bit defensively. End product still lacking.
Erling Haaland: 5. Didn’t get much of the ball and did little with it as his poor run of form continued. Looked in discomfort at the end of the first half. One shot blocked by Lisandro Martinez in second half before he was taken off. Has only scored 1 goal – from the penalty spot – in 7 games now.
Nico O’Reilly (on for Max Alleyne, 46): 5. Had to take a booking after Amad robbed him. Allowed Matheus Cunha to get past him for United’s second goal.
Rayan Cherki (on for Phil Foden, 46): 5. Close control again good but no end product this time.
Tijjani Reijnders (On for Bernardo Silva, 80): No time to mark
Rayan Ait-Nouri (On for Jeremy Doku, 80): No time to mark
Divine Mukasa (on for Erling Haaland, 80): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester United 2, Manchester City 0
Man Utd 1, Man City 0: 65. Bryan Mbeumo placed in the opening goal at the end of a United break and Bruno Fernandes’ through ball was perfectly placed for him.
Man Utd 2, Man City 0: 76. Matheus Cunha’s cross was finished off by Patrick Dorgu who got in front of his marker Rico Lewis to Robert the cutback.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 2, Manchester City 0
Man Utd: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw (Heaven 90+1), Casemiro (Ugarte 81), Mainoo, Amad, Fernandes (C) (Mount 90+1), Dorgu, Mbeumo (Cunha 71)
Man Utd Subs not used: Bayindir, Malacia, Yoro, Sesko, J Fletcher
Bookings: Dalot 11 (foul on Jeremy Doku), Shaw 17 (foul on Rodri)
Goals: Mbeumo 65; Dorgu 76; Mount 90+2
Man City: Donnarumma, Lewis, Khusanov, Alleyne (O’Reilly 46), Ake, Rodri, Silva (C) (Reijnders 80), Foden (Cherki 46), Semenyo, Doku (Ait-Nouri 80), Haaland (Mukasa 80)
Man City Subs not used: Trafford, Bettinelli, McAidoo, Mfuni
Bookings: Rodri 45+2(foul on Patrick Dorgu); O’Reilly 48 (foul on Amad); Lewis 75 (foul on Patrick Dorgu)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 74,004