Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City: Carrick’s dominant United go fourth | OneFootball

Michael Carrick’s Manchester United dented rivals Manchester City’s hopes of catching leaders Arsenal with a formidable 2-0 derby day victory at Old Trafford.

Goals from Byran Mbeuno and Patrick Dorgu in a spirited second half performance sent the Red Devils into the top four, opening the door for Arsenal to go nine points clear of City.

The home side were twice denied by the offside flag in the first half before Mason Mount’s strike late on was ruled out, as Carrick maintained his unbeaten record as interim boss.

As It Happened

Manchester United earned the first corner of the game, with Harry Maguire coming close as his header struck the crossbar.

United made a positive start under Carrick, with City looking unsettled in possession at the back.

Donnarumma, determined to keep the first clean sheets in both derbies since Joe Corrigan in 1974, was quick off his line for City to sweep up and prevent Bruno Fernandes’ through ball from finding Mbeumo in behind the defence.

Diogo Dalot was booked for a poor challenge on Jérémy Doku, with the incident checked for a possible red card before the yellow was upheld.

Bernardo Silva nearly opened the scoring for City, finding room in the area before heading over from Semenyo’s delivery.

Both United full-backs were booked, as Luke Shaw joined Dalot in receiving a yellow card for a foul on Rodri.

United had a chance after twenty minutes when Dorgu got on the ball, but Donnarumma was there to make the save.

The Red Devils thought they had opened the scoring through Amad Diallo, who rounded Donnarumma and finished into an empty net, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Manchester City came close to breaking the deadlock, but an excellent save from Lammens, combined with Dalot clearing on the goal line, kept the match goalless.

The hosts looked dangerous in the first half and might have led 2-0, but Bruno Fernandes’ finish was ruled out for offside by VAR.

United picked up where they left off in the first half, with their first chance coming from a Dalot cross that nearly found Dorgu at the City goal.

Lisandro Martinez produced a vital sliding block to deny Erling Haaland a first-time shot, sending the ball over the bar for a corner, which Lammens comfortably claimed.

Dorgu fired a powerful effort at the city goal, but Donnarumma deflected it straight to Casemiro, whose follow-up was also saved by the keeper.

Shortly after the hour, Donnarumma saved Bryan Mbeumo’s effort, though United had created enough chances to be five goals ahead.

Mbeumo finally opened the scoring for Manchester United, finishing an impressive counterattack after a mistake from a Manchester City free kick.

Late in the second half, Dorgu struck to double United’s lead, finishing calmly past Donnarumma. Mason Mount scored in added time to give united a 3-0 lead but it was ruled out for offside.

Next up for Manchester United a trip to the Emirates Stadium to face league leaders Arsenal on Sunday. Manchester City travel to Norway to face Bordo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Analysis: “United organised and devastating”

Who on earth saw this coming?

Manchester United’s formidable performance against the ‘noisy neighbours’ marks a significant blow for Pep Guardiola’s hopes of catching Premier League leaders Arsenal.

But they arguably don’t have the license to complain – they were second best throughout.

The Red Devils were rigid in their defensive shape, bold on the counter-attack, and utterly clinical – and could’ve been ahead immediately had Harry Maguire not hit the bar.

Former United full-back and hall of fame inductee Gary Neville noted that City could have anticipated a fight from their rivals, but not a performance as technically sound as this.

He said: “They’ll have expected a battle of course, but I think they wouldn’t have expected United to be as organised and devastating in the combinations in attack.”

Indeed, United won the battle of Old Trafford – edging out City’s tackles, interceptions, blocks, clearances, and duels won, in undoubtedly their best performance this season.

In his pre-match press conference, Guardiola himself admitted that he couldn’t predict the tactical choices that interim manager Michael Carrick would make. The set up he went with in the end could’ve have looked more different to Ruben Amorim’s.

On his return from the African Cup of Nations and a more familiar position out on the wing, Bryan Mbeumo showed the home faithful just what they were missing in his absence.

In fact, United’s shape as a whole – with Carrick opting for a back four, drafting Mbuemo wider and Patrick Dorgu higher up the field – lended itself perfectly to the directness that he must have instructed his players to be.

Twice were they rewarded for this approach in the first half, only for the offside flag to raise, but they would reap the benefits breaking away with purpose after a City free-kick left them desperately short at the back.

The Sky Blues’ frailty at the back was in no doubt partly due to the notable first-team absences of Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, Ruben Dias. But it simply doesn’t excuse the lackluster performance at both ends of the pitch.

One thing is certain: unlike his Portuguese predecessor, Carrick knows how to get the best out of the players at his disposal. Talk about a decent audition for the full-time gig.

The Line-ups

Report by Kasey Rees