Mirror
The title may still be beyond them, but Manchester United reminded the noisy neighbours they won’t go quietly.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer masterminded his third successive win at the Etihad Stadium to bring to an end Manchester City’s formidable 28-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Victory for United may only have reduced City’s lead over them to 11 points, but it provided a timely reminder of their enduring quality, despite their inconsistency.
For Solskjaer, this was vindication of his tactics and approach, after three straight goalless draws had raised legitimate questions about the perceived progress made under him this season.
The win also stretched United’s unbeaten run away in the league to 22 games, although when they can dominate like this, their fans are entitled to ask why they cannot win more on the road.
For City, the big question now is how this defeat will impact the rest of their season and their hopes of pulling off an unprecedented quadruple haul of trophies.
United made the perfect start, awarded a penalty after 35 seconds following a clumsy and needless challenge from Gabriel Jesus on Anthony Martial, as he danced his way across the edge of the area.
Although Ederson got a hand to the ball, there was too much power in the spot-kick from Bruno Fernandes, who took his goal tally to 23 for the season.
It was the first time in 20 league games City had fallen behind, a run stretching back to November 21, when they lost 2-0 at Tottenham, after which they went on their formidable run.
Despite that early setback, City settled into their familiar pattern of possession, with United forced to sit back and adopt a policy of containment, hoping to hit their opponents on the counter-attack.
Yet for all their possession thereafter, United never looked like conceding, due to a combination of their own impressive defensive diligence and City’s wastefulness in the final third.
Although City created promising openings, they lacked their usual clinical edge when it mattered, their insipid play providing United with few problems, from which Solskjaer’s side gained in confidence.
Just before the break, Riyad Mahrez slalomed his way past a trio of red shirts, before Ilkay Gundogan picked up the loose ball, only to shoot tamely at Dean Henderson.
And on half-time, Jesus was unable to connect with a drilled Mahrez ball at the far post, as City’s frustration grew with their inability to get back on level terms.
City hit the bar within two minutes of the restart, Rodri striking it after clever build-up play involving Mahrez and Jesus.
It proved a costly miss, with United doubling their lead three minutes later.
Henderson’s quick-thinking saw him find Luke Shaw with a raking throw, the full-back taking the ball past first Joao Cancelo and then Kevin De Bruyne, who was out of sorts throughout.
Shaw surged into the penalty area and, after exchanging passes with Marcus Rashford, steered a low shot through Rodri’s legs and beyond Ederson, into the far corner.
Martial had a chance to make it 3-0 in the 68th minute, but shot meekly, allowing Ederson to block his close-range effort.
It didn’t matter, as United repelled everything City had, which, by the end, was very little.
This Story First Appeared At Mirror
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