City’s EDS fall to Premier League 2 defeat in Manchester derby

Despite City enjoying the best chances of the first half, it took Manchester United just one to take the lead. Chido Obi converted from close range and left City with a difficult task ahead.

Ben Wilkinson’s side translated our frustration from the match into a handful of positive attacks which saw Reigan Heskey finally break through for City with a composed finish.

But substitute Amir Ibragimov restored United’s lead with City unable to snatch a point in the final few minutes.

WHAT HAPPENED

In the new format of the Premier League 2, it was a third successive season City travelled to the Leigh Sports Village for our league phase Manchester derby.

United came into the clash with two wins from two, but with our midweek EFL Trophy win over Oldham, City also came into Sunday afternoon’s game with confidence.

Our young boys in blue dominated possession and were rewarded with a handful of chances.

United skipper Jacob Devaney kept his team in the game twice with two vital blocks to deny Divine Mukasa and Ryan McAidoo inside the opening 15 minutes.

Justin Oboavwoduo then latched onto a misplaced back pass and almost placed his effort into the bottom right corner but was denied by the fingertips of Will Murdock.

Despite City looking the stronger side as half-time approached, it was the hosts who took the lead into the break.

Mukasa was dispossessed by Obi on the edge of the City box and the United forward placed his shot around an onrushing Jack Wint to leave Wilkinson’s side with work to do.

Oboavwoduo had a fantastic opportunity on 61 minutes to draw City level. He used his chest to control Kian Noble’s lofted ball that floated beautifully over the United back line.

But with a United defender doing enough to distract our forward, he put his chance just wide of the left post.

Jack Wint denied substitute Shea Lacey with a great one-handed save on 73 minutes, with time quickly dwindling for City, who continued to show fight and grit in a difficult game.

And it was finally rewarded when R. Heskey nudged the ball into the back of the United net four minutes later.

The winger’s change of pace saw him break away from Devaney before poking the ball past Murdock with everything to play for in the final 10 minutes.

Sangare met Mukasa’s corner with conviction, and his headed effort looked goal-bound. But Murdock did brilliantly to get to the bottom right corner to deny City the lead.

Momentum continued to shift, and this time it was United on the attack. Substitute Amir Ibragimov converted a low cross at the back post on 83 minutes to restore United’s lead.

With not enough time to find another equaliser, City fell to our second PL2 defeat of the season.

TEAMS

UNITED XI | Murdock, Kamason, Devaney, Armer, Mantato, T. Fletcher (Ibragimov 77’), Scanlon (Musa 87’), Fitzgerald (Lacey 72’), Obi (Biancheri 87’), J. Fletcher, Mather.

SUBS | Overy.

CITY XI | Wint, Muir, Noble, Mfuni, McFarlane, Fapetu (Sangare 36’), McAidoo (Lawrence 62’), J. Heskey, Oboavwoduo, Mukasa, R. Heskey.

SUBS | Brits, Naylor, Nfonkeu.

WHAT IT MEANS

With one win and two defeats, City have three points after three Premier League 2 games and sit 17th in the table. 

UP NEXT

After the September international break, Wilkinson and his side will face Napoli in our first UEFA Youth League game of 2025/26.

Scheduled to take place on Thursday 18 September at the Joie Stadium, the kick-off time will be confirmed in due course.

Keep across mancity.com and the Official Man City App for updates.