Blue team from Manchester were left red faced after Marcus Rahsford scored the only goal in the game to hand Manchester United a massive win at The Etihad. Manchester City are now just a point ahead of United in the battle for top 4 finish this season.
On the night when City needed their big player to step up, Martin Demichelis was the biggest disappointment. Demichelis failed to contain Rashford for the goal and then his mistimed back-pass led to Joe Hart being stretchered off soon after the half time whistle.
Manchester United saw key players Chris Smalling, David De Gea and Anthony Martial come good against their bitter rivals. On the wake of full-time whistle at The Etihad, we take a look at Manchester City vs Manchester United player ratings.
Manchester City Player Ratings vs Man United
Hart (5) – Could not do anything for Rashford’s goal, unlucky to get the injury in second half.
Sagna (5.5) – Good forward runs, but looked uncomfortable defending against Martial.
Demichelis (3.5) – His lack of speed and awareness exploited by Rashford, The Argentine cost City a goal and a man.
Mangala (5.5) – Stayed strong and never lunged in to tackles, strong defending by The Frenchman.
Clichy (6) – Always bombed forward to support Silva, was a composed man while defending against Mata and Lingard.
Fernandinho (6) – First half was all about keeping United attacks at bay, second half he played in defense where he had very little to do.
Yaya Toure (6) – Played from the number 10 role since Sterling’s injury, made couple of busting forward runs, one of his crosses was headed against the goal post by Aguero.
Sterling (5) – Looked bright at the start by getting at Darmian, but went off injured on 26th minute.
Silva (6.5) – Some great passes in the final third of United’s defense, unlucky to have not found Aguero in space on couple of occasions.
Navas (6) – Always available on the wings but deliveries in the box and shooting were awful.
Aguero (6) – Way off his game tonight, got the space to shoot on several occasions but never found the target.
Substitutes
Fernando (6), Caballero (6), Bony (5)
Manchester United Player Ratings vs Man City
De Gea (6.5) – Had little to do on the night as he stuck to his task and bossed his penalty area when called upon.
Darmian (5.5) A solid display at the back as he stood strong against the likes of Sterling and Silva and also made a number of forward runs to provide width in the attack.
Smalling (6.5) – Kept out Aguero and stood tall to keep a clean sheet in a solid performance with 3 tackles and 5 clearances.
Blind (6.5) – Made a number of crucial interceptions and clearances to keep the home side away from the goal for the whole game.
Rojo (6) – Gave away the ball a couple of times in dangerous areas but was solid in general as he marshaled his flank with authority.
Schneiderlin (7) – Took control of the mid-field and gave plenty of cover to his back four as City found it hard to go past the ex-Southampton man.
Carrick (6) – Had loads of possession of the ball and managed to pick the right past most times in a commanding performance in the middle of the field.
Lingard (6) – Did not contribute directly to the result of the game but his movement on and off the ball were important in United’s victory at the Etihad.
Mata (6) – A more of a matured performance from the Spaniard, found his teammates all night and took out Sterling with a crunching tackle.
Martial (6.5) – Tried to use his pace and tricks inside the penalty box as he kept the home side pinned in their own half in yet another good performance from the youngster.
Rashford (7.5) – Just took 16 minutes to open the scoring as he became the youngest player to score in a Manchester derby. Also looked dangerous every time he was on the ball and made life difficult for the home side in a Man of the Match performance from the 18-year old.
Substitutes
Valencia (5.5), Schweinsteiger (5.5), Fosu-Mensah (NA)