David Moyes’s first derby
as Manchester United manager turned into a
nightmare on Sunday as Manchester City
inflicted a humiliating 4-1 defeat at a triumphant
Etihad Stadium. With Robin van Persie absent due to a groin
strain, a limp and lacklustre United were
dominated from kick-off on a sunny afternoon in
northwest England. They saw City take control through first-half
goals from Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure, and
quick-fire strikes from Aguero and Samir Nasri in
the second period meant the game was over
after only 50 minutes. Wayne Rooney scored a fine late free-kick to
become the outright leading scorer in the
fixture, but it could not stop City’s fans
revelling in a victory almost as seismic as their
6-1 win at Old Trafford in October 2011. That victory paved the way for City’s
subsequent title triumph, and after a dream first
derby as manager, Manuel Pellegrini saw his
side climb to second place in the Premier
League table, two points behind Arsenal. Defending champions United, meanwhile, find
themselves five points off the pace after two
defeats in their first five games. Moyes can console himself that his storied
predecessor Alex Ferguson once lost 5-1 at
City, but from three games against title rivals
City, Chelsea and Liverpool, his side have picked
up just a single point. Van Persie had scored the winning goal in last
season’s corresponding fixture and his
unexpected absence from the United team-
sheet was the first indication that it might be
City’s day. Danny Welbeck was the beneficiary, with
Ashley Young also coming into United’s team,
while Pellegrini chose Alvaro Negredo over
Edin Dzeko in attack but was unable to select
David Silva in his squad due to injury. United began with purpose, Welbeck charging
down an attempted clearance by Vincent
Kompany inside 10 seconds, but the hosts
quickly took control before striking in the 16th
minute. With Antonio Valencia dawdling, Aleksandr
Kolarov hared onto Nasri’s cute back-heel and
crossed from the left for Aguero to hook home
a smart left-foot volley from eight yards. Despite the presence of the giant Marouane
Fellaini, United were swamped in midfield and
saw Nasri lash a sweetly struck volley
narrowly over David de Gea’s crossbar
moments later. United’s frustration told in a booking for Rooney
for a succession of offences, culminating in a
hack at City skipper Kompany, and it got worse
in first-half injury time when Toure made it 2-0. Nasri’s corner was headed down by Negredo
and the giant Ivorian had the freedom of the
six-yard box to knee the ball over the line from
close range. Moyes elected not to make any personnel
changes at the interval and within 62 seconds
of the restart, his side fell further behind. The irrepressible Nasri was again the instigator
with a pass down the inside-left channel for
Negredo, who held off Nemanja Vidic,
swivelled, and crossed for Aguero to volley in
his second of the game. Within minutes it was 4-0, the unmarked Nasri
volleying in a cross from Jesus Navas, who had
been allowed to run 80 yards unchallenged. The Etihad dissolved into a mass version of the
backwards-facing ‘Poznan’ dance beloved of
City’s fans and only sharp defending from Vidic
prevented Negredo from adding a fifth. After Patrice Evra hit the post with a late
header, Rooney planted a fine 25-yard free-kick
into the top-right corner to claim a record 11th
derby goal, but it provided meagre consolation.
as Manchester United manager turned into a
nightmare on Sunday as Manchester City
inflicted a humiliating 4-1 defeat at a triumphant
Etihad Stadium. With Robin van Persie absent due to a groin
strain, a limp and lacklustre United were
dominated from kick-off on a sunny afternoon in
northwest England. They saw City take control through first-half
goals from Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure, and
quick-fire strikes from Aguero and Samir Nasri in
the second period meant the game was over
after only 50 minutes. Wayne Rooney scored a fine late free-kick to
become the outright leading scorer in the
fixture, but it could not stop City’s fans
revelling in a victory almost as seismic as their
6-1 win at Old Trafford in October 2011. That victory paved the way for City’s
subsequent title triumph, and after a dream first
derby as manager, Manuel Pellegrini saw his
side climb to second place in the Premier
League table, two points behind Arsenal. Defending champions United, meanwhile, find
themselves five points off the pace after two
defeats in their first five games. Moyes can console himself that his storied
predecessor Alex Ferguson once lost 5-1 at
City, but from three games against title rivals
City, Chelsea and Liverpool, his side have picked
up just a single point. Van Persie had scored the winning goal in last
season’s corresponding fixture and his
unexpected absence from the United team-
sheet was the first indication that it might be
City’s day. Danny Welbeck was the beneficiary, with
Ashley Young also coming into United’s team,
while Pellegrini chose Alvaro Negredo over
Edin Dzeko in attack but was unable to select
David Silva in his squad due to injury. United began with purpose, Welbeck charging
down an attempted clearance by Vincent
Kompany inside 10 seconds, but the hosts
quickly took control before striking in the 16th
minute. With Antonio Valencia dawdling, Aleksandr
Kolarov hared onto Nasri’s cute back-heel and
crossed from the left for Aguero to hook home
a smart left-foot volley from eight yards. Despite the presence of the giant Marouane
Fellaini, United were swamped in midfield and
saw Nasri lash a sweetly struck volley
narrowly over David de Gea’s crossbar
moments later. United’s frustration told in a booking for Rooney
for a succession of offences, culminating in a
hack at City skipper Kompany, and it got worse
in first-half injury time when Toure made it 2-0. Nasri’s corner was headed down by Negredo
and the giant Ivorian had the freedom of the
six-yard box to knee the ball over the line from
close range. Moyes elected not to make any personnel
changes at the interval and within 62 seconds
of the restart, his side fell further behind. The irrepressible Nasri was again the instigator
with a pass down the inside-left channel for
Negredo, who held off Nemanja Vidic,
swivelled, and crossed for Aguero to volley in
his second of the game. Within minutes it was 4-0, the unmarked Nasri
volleying in a cross from Jesus Navas, who had
been allowed to run 80 yards unchallenged. The Etihad dissolved into a mass version of the
backwards-facing ‘Poznan’ dance beloved of
City’s fans and only sharp defending from Vidic
prevented Negredo from adding a fifth. After Patrice Evra hit the post with a late
header, Rooney planted a fine 25-yard free-kick
into the top-right corner to claim a record 11th
derby goal, but it provided meagre consolation.
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