Manchester United beat Manchester City 2-0 at Old Trafford in a statement performance.
A rejuvenated United flew out of the traps and looked too much for Manchester City, who were so far off it. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu saw United pick up three richly deserved points. The Reds worked harder, fought harder in a display of just what everyone connected to the club was hoping for after weeks of turmoil.
Michael Carrick’s first game in charge of United could hardly have been a tougher introduction against their city neighbours. But he made the dream start and has Old Trafford bouncing once again. The former United midfielder is back in his second interim spell until the end of the season and had just a handful of training sessions to get his early message across to the players.
Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring with a composed finish
Deploying a back four, United pressed high early on and started the game against an uncharacteristically messy City side. Harry Maguire should have opened the scoring after just three minutes when he headed onto the bar from point-blank range.
United were the better team in the opening stages but were lucky not to be reduced to 10 men after Diogo Dalot only saw yellow for a late, high tackle on Jeremy Doku. The ball popped up from Doku’s touch and Dalot lunged for the ball, while he made slight contact with the ball, his follow through landed just below the knee of the City flyer.
Despite VAR taking a look, Anthony Taylor was recommended not to review the incident, with the contact deemed a 'glancing blow' to the disbelief of Gary Neville and Mike Dean. The former referee said: "100 per cent red card. At normal speed you can't tell, but the replays aren't good. It's high, across the kneecap. Red card all day."
A feisty derby soon went up a notch after Luke Shaw was also booked for a late tackle on Rodri, but United revelled in the chaos. The crowd was up and the players looked completely revitalised in a first-half that United were the better side and saw two goals disallowed for offside.
Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes both made their runs too early before rounding Gianluigi Donnarumma and both times the linesman’s flag was correctly raised.
The only thing missing from that first-half performance from United was a goal and the lead. Carrick’s side had the intensity, certainly not seen during Darren Fletcher’s two games in charge, but also rarely ever seen from Ruben Amorim’s team, definitely not for such prolonged periods.
The back four setup allowed United to overpower City’s attack-minded midfield, with Rodri largely overrun while Kobbie Mainoo impressed in his first [Premier League](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/premier-league) start of the season.
City emerged from the break looking more like their usual self but it was again the 20-time champions who wasted a golden chance to break the deadlock.
A stinging shot from Amad was brilliantly saved by Donnarumma before he denied Casemiro on the rebound with a miraculous outstretched leg. The giant Italian then denied Bryan Mbeumo's volley attempt from close range.
However, he couldn't keep out the Cameroonian minutes later when Fernandes rolled him through on goal. Mbeumo produced a composed, clinical finish across Donnarumma and into the far corner - finally rewarding United with the moment their performance merited.
Old Trafford was on its feet again 10 minutes later when Dorgu got goalside of the sleeping Rico Lewis to turn home Matheus Cunha's cross. The Brazilian came off the bench with the perfect impact as he skinned Nico O'Reilly before laying the ball across the face of goal where the Dane produced a calm finish to turn the ball in the net via the post.
Amad could have put the cherry on top of the cake when he raced clear, beating Nathan Ake before striking the post, but Mason Mount appeared to have done exactly that too when he tapped in number three in added time, only for an incredibly tight offside decision via VAR to disallow the goal.
But United's day was not ruined. It was impossible to do so.