Manchester Derby: United 0-0 City- Result

 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.

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