Derby delight as Carrick gives City the blues
Manchester is red again after goals in the second-half from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu against our city rivals today. It was a deserved result as the side played with a purpose and cohesion despite having only a few days together under the new regime. We even had three disallowed goals and hit the woodwork twice.
Man City have now fallen nine points behind Arsenal in the title race ahead of their game with Forest. They can perhaps point to a possible red card for Diogo Dalot early on but they lacked any sort of energy. Only Donnarumma stopped what could have been a heavier loss.
Michael Carrick made five changes to the Cup loss to Brighton in his first game as interim manager. Both Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbuemo came straight back into the side following the completion of their AFCON duties while Kobee Mainoo made his first Premier League start of the season. Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw took their place in a back four. Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, Ayden Heaven, Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte all drop down to the bench. Joshua Zirkzee was not in the matchday squad due to a rumoured knock.
Pep Guardiola made three changes from the Carabao Cup first-leg win at Newcastle. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rodrigo Rodri, and Rico Lewis all returned in place of James Trafford and Nico O’ Reilly. Matheus Nunes was not in the squad due to illness. They were still without a number of injured defenders and look set to complete the signing of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
From the start, it looked as if Bryan Mbeumo was given the nod to act as the main striker of the three. It was important that Utd started well given the poor record in derby games in recent seasons. And they almost had an ideal beginning after three minutes. Bruno Fernandes swung in a dangerous corner that wwas met by the head of Harry Maguire. He was only able to smack it off the crossbar with Gianluigi Donnarumma stranded.
The home players were not building back and Diogo Dalot was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card after 11 minutes. In winning the ball from Jeremy Doku, he caught the Belgian on the follow-through. It was close but the lack of force perhaps saved him. Luke Shaw was also in the action. First he intercepted a ball intended for Erling Haaland and then he was booked for a tackle on Rodri. Utd players protested as Patrick Dorgu had been fouled at the other end.
The first shot on target came after 22 minutes and Dorgu was involved once more. Fernandes sprayed a pass forward to Bryan Mbeumo who let it go through to Dorgu. He hit a shot across goal but the Italian keeper tipped it away.
Amad Diallo was denied a return goal after Fernandes slipped a pass through for him. He rounded the keeper and tapped home but it was ruled to be offside. It was confirmed by VAR.
Despite not having created much of note, City almost went ahead after 36 minutes. Phil Foden swung in a corner that was was headed back into the area by Nathan Ake and met by Max Alleyne from close in. A combination of Senne Lammens and Dalot scrambled it away.
Amazingly United then had another goal disallowed. Lisandro Martinez was the man providing the pass for Fernandes to skip around the keeper and score. It was again ruled out for offside. Carrick would have been pleased with the application from his team though at the break.
Guardiola made two changes at the break as they attempted to up the tempo. They almost had a gift to allow them the lead after 55 minutes. Dalot miscued a pass straight to Antoine Semenyo who immediately found Haaland. His first-time effort was brilliantly blocked by Martinez though. The city forward then had another chance blocked by Maguire shortly after.
We were again left cursing our luck as Donnarumma pulled off a fantastic double save. He first saved from Diallo from close range after he cut inside O’ Reilly. The keeper was then somehow able to get a hand up to deny Casemiro on the follow-up. He then got across to palm an effort away from Mbeumo as the home side upped the pressure.
He would not be denied after 65 minutes though. City had a free-kick that was blocked and Utd quickly broke with Fernandes, Mbeumo and Diallo. The captain slotted a pass to his left for the returning Mbeumo to slide a shot past the City keeper.
The Cameroon player was replaced by Matheus Cunha and he was at the key of the second goal after 76 minutes. He was too strong for O’ Reilly out wide and put a dangerous ball into the area. Rico Lewis appeared to have the chance covered but Dorgu burst ahead of him to side-foot it past Donnarumma.
It might be expected that City would go full force to get back into the game but it was Utd still bursting forward to land a third near the end. Diallo was denied a goal by the post after cutting inside Ake far too easily. There was a third disallowed goal for the home side as Mason Mount was the player denied on this occasion. VAR ruling Cunha to be just offside.
It was not to matter though on the final whistle. Carrick showed his delight as he fist-pumped at the fans. It lifts the team into fourth in the table for a few hours at least. It also gives them massive confidence and a platform to build upon. It is early days though but we can at least celebrate tonight.
Manchester United: Senne Lammens, Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Carlos Casemiro (Manuel Ugarte 81), Kobee Mainoo, Amad Diallo, Patrick Dorgu, Bruno Fernandes (Mason Mount 90+1), Patrick Dorgu, Bryan Mbeumo (Matheus Cunha 71).
Subs not used: Altay Bayinder, Tyrell Malacia, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, Benjamin Sesko, Jack Fletcher.
Booked: Diogo Dalot (11), Luke Shaw (17)
Sent off: None
Manchester City: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rico Lewis, Abduqodir Khusanov, Max Alleyne (Ryan Cherki 46), Nathan Ake, Rodrigo Rodri, Antoine Semenyo, Phil Foden (Nico O’ Reilly 46), Bernardo Silva (Tijjani Reijnders 80), Jeremy Doku (Rayan Ait Nouri 80), Erling Haaland (Devine Mukasa 80).
Subs not used: James Trafford, Marcus Bettinelli, Ryan McAidoo, Stephen Mfuni.
Booked: Rodrigo Rodri (45+2), Nico O’ Reilly (48), Rico Lewis (75)
Sent off: None
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 74,004
Simply Red Man of the Match: Bryan Mbeumo
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