Man United toasts 1st derby double over City in a decade

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This article was published 08/03/2020 (2396 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MANCHESTER, England – Manchester United completed a Premier League derby double over Manchester City for the first time in a decade on Sunday with a 2-0 victory aided by goalkeeping blunders.

A canny set piece created the opener on the half-hour, with Bruno Fernandes chipping a free kick to Anthony Martial, whose shot squirmed under Ederson.

Another Ederson gaffe gifted the second goal in second-half stoppage time, rolling the ball straight to Scott McTominay, who compounded City’s misery in the rain at Old Trafford by striking from distance into an empty net.

“I read the goalkeeper so you give yourself half a chance,” McTominay said. “That was a sweet moment. Credit to the boys they were top drawer today. It’s a game we have to take confidence from.”

A seventh loss of the season for second-place City just hastens the moment Liverpool’s 30-year league title drought ends, with Juergen Klopp’s side now needing only two wins from nine games.

United moved into fifth place, which could be enough for a Champions League place if City’s appeal against a two-season ban from European competitions is unsuccessful in court.

While far from being title contenders again, United has managed to assert its supremacy over its neighbour in league meetings.

Not since 2015, under Louis van Gaal, had United won a derby at Old Trafford.

It was during Alex Ferguson’s reign, in the 2009-10 season, when United won both derbies. And Ferguson was in the stands to see the team he dismissed as a “noisy neighbour” after the influx of Adu Dhabi wealth in 2008 being comprehensively overcome.

For all the gloom at United at times this season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side is unbeaten in 10 matches. And the protests against the ownership were washed away during the derby euphoria —- none more so than the roar that greeted McTominay’s goal from the stands.

“What a day they’ve had,” Solskjaer said. “If our fans can see players with commitment and attitude and desire we’ve done our job.”

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Just as they did in the away fixture in December, winning 2-1 at City.

This, according to Pep Guardiola, was an avoidable defeat. But he wasn’t blaming Ederson.

“He’s an exceptional goalkeeper,” the City manager said. “I’m not here to judge my players. He will recover and he is a special talent.”

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