City denied in derby stalemate
City were forced to settle for a point as United produced a resolute defensive performance to claim a 0-0 draw.
The Reds spent the last 15 minutes with just ten men following Marouane Fellaini’s dismissal and the Blues had the ball in the net in injury time, only to be denied by the assistant referee’s flag.
What happened?
The opening period was a war of attrition with a well-organised United side spending much of the half repelling City’s prods and probes.
It wasn’t the eye candy the watching millions around the globe were hoping for, but both teams did have their chances.
City came closest to breaking the deadlock in the ninth minute when Kevin De Bruyne’s cross found Aguero in the six-yard box but the Argentine guided the ball onto the outside of the post.
There were a few hearts in mouths when Claudio Bravo clawed Anthony Martial’s cross out of the air but only palmed it into the path of Henrikh Mkhitaryan who saw his shot saved by the Chilean.
Much of the battle was fought in midfield where Yaya Toure and Fernandinho frequently clashed with Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera.
