Manchester City returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League on goal difference after holding rivals Manchester United to a 0-0 draw in the Manchester derby.
The absence of David Silva and Sergio Aguero through injury impacted upon the creativity of the visitors, who had scored 11 goals in their previous two league wins, while Wayne Rooney was unable to supplement Anthony Martial’s ingenuity in the United attack.
Substitute Jesse Lingard was almost an unlikely derby hero for United, prodding a volley against the crossbar from Martial’s wonderful lofted ball five minutes from time and City goalkeeper Joe Hart saved brilliantly from Chris Smalling as the clock ticked down.
City edge on to 22 points, ahead of Arsenal at the top of the table on goal difference, while United are fourth and level on 20 with third-placed West Ham United.
City captain Vincent Kompany returned at centre-back to partner Nicolas Otamendi for the first time, while Manuel Pellegrini replaced Jesus Navas with Fernando to bolster his central midfield.
Louis van Gaal made a solitary change to the United side that drew 1-1 against CSKA Moscow in midweek, with Juan Mata replacing Lingard, and his settled line-up made the more assured start.
City’s first sight of goal came in the 12th minute, Raheem Sterling’s shot deflected wide after a one-two with Fernandinho – the Brazil midfielder who earned a fifth booking of the season and a suspension for fouling Martial a few moments later.
Yaya Toure enjoyed the best opening of the first-half, heading Kevin De Bruyne’s right-wing corner narrowly wide before lofting a searching pass from the same player off target.
Martial’s quick footwork offered United’s greatest source of encouragement before the break, Kompany booked for a foul on the France international, but Ander Herrera was the man to unnerve City after the restart.
Having seen a shot deflected wide, the midfielder collected a short corner and went down under a challenge from Sterling, who went unpunished but made way for Navas in the 53rd minute.
United almost found success with a more direct set-piece approach, Morgan Schneiderlin agonisingly close to a decisive touch as Smalling’s header skidded past Hart’s near post.
Otamendi made a vital clearance as Rooney lurked on the end of a low Bastian Schweinsteiger cross and Hart burst from his goal to deny Mata as the pressure on City grew.
Lingard and Smalling were denied by the woodwork and Hart respectively as the cross-Manchester tussle ended all-square for the first time in 13 meetings across all competitions.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal: “I think it was a very tough game for both sides. We were unlucky and they were lucky. That’s what I can say about this match.
“It was one of our best matches – 90 minutes concentration and focus, 90 minutes control of the game against a side like Manchester City. I cannot complain as a manager but you want to win and we did not win. That’s the most important thing.”
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini: “I’m not disappointed because we did okay in a difficult stadium. We played better in the first half, but as a team we need to defend as well, it’s a tactical game. It’s easy to defend with 10 players in your box, for me it’s not the way to do it but we did well.
“I don’t know if we have played our best. I always read how teams going away and playing tactical are doing well – it’s all mind games, and although it’s not my way of playing we did it this time. We have returned to the top, which is important.”
Post-match stats
– This is only the third goalless Manchester derby in BPL history (also November 2004 and November 2010).
– Man City were involved in their first goalless PL draw in their last 61 games, last drawing 0-0 v Norwich in February 2014.
– Man Utd v Man City is only the second Barclays Premier League match this season not to have a shot on target in the first half, along with United v Liverpool.
– Man Utd did not have a single shot in the first half of a BPL match for the first time since 2003/04 (including blocked).
– It took 82 minutes for the first shot on target in this match, from Jesus Navas. United have their first attempt on target in the 88th minute.
source:premierleague.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 