Posted on: 04:44 Sun, 25 Oct 2015



Agency Report

Manchester City returned to the top of
the Premier League after a 0-0 draw
with rivals Manchester United at Old
Trafford.

After a mediocre first half, United
went close to opening the scoring as
Chris Smalling’s header dropped just
wide of Joe Hart’s post.

The two best chances fell to United in
the final five minutes; first Jesse
Lingard’s effort on the stretch from
six yards hit the crossbar, before
Smalling’s first-time shot forced a
fine save out of Hart.



The result returns City to top spot in
the Premier League on goal difference
from Arsenal, while United sit fourth,
two points behind City.



The first half was lacking in chances
with both defences on top, and was
only the second Premier League
game this season not to see a shot on
target in the first 45 minutes.

Two half-chances did fall for Yaya
Toure; first, his header from Kevin De
Bruyne’s corner fell just wide of David
De Gea’s right post, before the
Ivorian fluffed his effort from 15
yards after De Bruyne’s fine centre.

The contest opened up after the
break, with three clear chances
falling to Louis van Gaal’s side.

Smalling’s header from Juan Mata’s
corner bounced just inches in front
of Morgan Schneiderlin as he looked to
tap home, before the ball fell just the
wrong side of the post.



United came closest on 85 minutes
when substitute Lingard latched on
to a fine Anthony Martial ball over
the top of the City defence, and his
outstretched effort had the beating of
Hart but bounced back off the
crossbar and clear.



Then, with just two minutes
remaining, Smalling’s low shot from
10 yards at the near post was tipped
wide by the outstretched glove of
Hart.





Neither side could grab a winner in
stoppage time, meaning a first
goalless Manchester derby since
November 2010.

Player ratings

Manchester United: De Gea (6);
Valencia (6), Jones (6), Smalling (7),
Rojo (7); Schweinsteiger (6),
Schneiderlin (6), Herrera (6); Mata
(6), Rooney (6), Martial (7).

Subs: Darmian (6), Lingard 7),
Fellaini (6)

Man City: Hart (7), Sagna (6),
Kompany (5), Otamendi (7), Kolarov
(6), Fernando (6), Fernandinho (6),
De Bruyne (6), Toure (6), Sterling (5),
Bony (5)

Subs: Demichelis (6), Navas (6),
Iheanacho (6)

Man of the match: Nicolas Otamendi