Man Utd v Man City PL 12 April match report

The Blues had taken an early lead through Sergio Aguero, but the initial verve and dominance gradually faded thereafter as the game steadily slipped away as Louis Van Gaal’s side took the chances that came their way and perhaps could have made the winning margin greater.

Aguero scored a late consolation to complete a century of goals for the Blues, but it was certainly not the scenario he had hoped to reach such a memorable milestone with.

Manuel Pellegrini went with a 4-5-1 formation, recalling James Milner and Pablo Zabaleta at the expense of Edin Dzeko and Bacary Sagna.

Chasing a club record five successive derby victories, City needed a strong performance against one of the Premier League’s current form sides – and with a hungry pack of clubs in the champions’ rear-view mirror, securing a top-four spot is the now the first priority

...United 4 City 2...

 

With so much negative scrutiny going into this game, the Blues raced out of the blocks and immediately pressed and harried the United defence with David Silva, Yaya Toure and James Milner causing plenty of concern for the hosts.

So dominant were City in the opening minutes that three clear chances were created in quick succession with Jesus Navas racing clear on six minutes only to see his shot saved by David De Gea and then Yaya Toure looked set to score from close range a minute later only for a desperate last-ditch tackle to deny him.

The third chance came just moments later and this time it resulted in City taking a richly deserved lead with a sumptuous move that began with Gael Clichy’s burst forward and he in turn found Milner who slipped in the perfect reverse pass for Silva who expertly picked out Aguero who scored his 99^th goal for the club from a few yards out.

It was the perfect start for the Blues who had begun the game looking every inch the side that had won the title last season – but the lead proved to be short-lived.

As Navas chased a Phil Jones back pass, De Gea raced out to clear the ball up field and as Zabaleta’s header fell kindly to Ander Herrera, his cross deflected kindly for Ashley Young who hooked in from close range to level the scores.

City attempted to restore control of the game but gradually United began to gain the initiative and just before the half-hour, the Blues were caught napping somewhat as Young’s cross picked out Fellaini at the back-post and the Belgian headed home past Joe Hart.

TV replays suggested Fellaini was marginally offside but it mattered little because the goal stood and City now trailed. It had been a breathless first 30 minutes and the Blues now had a mountain to climb.

City clung on a little at times, but Aguero raced clear on one occasion only to see the ball kick off his shins and out of play with Silva waiting in the middle

...United 4 City 2..

 

The half-time whistle came as something of a relief with the opportunity to regroup and ponder how to get back into the game that looked to be possibly slipping away.

Though the second-half  started more positively, City were fortunate not to fall further behind on 53 minutes when Hart pushed out Wayne Rooney’s free-kick and from the ensuing scramble Michael Carrick looked certain to score only for his shot to be denied by Hart on the line.

Then, just before the hour-mark, Young was alone in the box as a cross from in from the right but his header was that of a winger as he completely fluffed the chance – that could have been curtains – but City dug in, looked for inspiration from somewhere to get back into the game.

However, it was United who struck the fatal blow when Juan Mata raced clear – again looking more than a shade offside from Rooney’s pass – and hit a low drive past Hart to make it 3-1 on 67 minutes.

That, given the momentum of the game since Young’s equaliser, appeared to be game, set and match. And so it proved.

There was worse to follow as Chris Smalling scored a fourth on 73 minutes with the marking from Young’s free-kick questionable yet again – it was turning into a nightmare 169^th Manchester derby for the Blues who by now looked ragged and spent.

Two minutes from time, Aguero turned in Zabaleta’s cross to reduce the arrears with his 100th City goal - a fantastic achievement - but alas, it was too little, too late as the Blues slumped to a fourth successive loss on the road.