TheSportsCampus

For all the hype and expectation surrounding the most anticipated Manchester derby to date, Manchester City and Manchester United toiled out a footballing game of chess at the City of Manchester Stadium, resulting in an unspectacular 0 – 0 draw. The result puts both teams further behind Premier League leaders Chelsea, who now have a four-point lead over second-place United following a 1-0 win over Fulham. City are fourth, another three points behind.

With the pre-match atmosphere set to fever pitch, the lights dropped and expectations were raised; the world’s eyes were ready to feast on a classic derby match. Or so they thought.

A drab first 45 minutes betrayed the lively exchanges in the build-up, with barely a chance worthy of the names as caution ruled the pristine Eastlands surface. United were more comfortable in possession and one promising passage of play led to an opening for Patrice Evra inside the area, but his finish was too close to goalkeeper Hart.

Tevez, who has been a major figure in Manchester derbies of late after his controversial switch from across town from red to blue, had been contained comfortably by Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, but he almost single-handily broke the deadlock after 35 minutes. His 20-yard free-kick curled towards the top corner, but Edwin Van der Sar was able to move his left and claw his effort away to safety.

Frustratingly the game really started opening up as the first half drew to a close. Tempers started to flare as first Paul Scholes went into the book after a series of rash tackles on James Milner, followed by Rafael and Tevez squaring-up; their little duel embodying the larger Derby significance.

United continued to look the more efficient side after the break, and when Dimitar Berbatov hit the target with a bicycle kick, Hart was perfectly positioned to make the save.

Roberto Mancini decided with twenty minutes to go to inject some life into the City side and introduced the exciting Adam Johnson for the ineffective James Milner and the young Englishman showed attacking intent straight away by sliding inside John O’Shea and Wes Brown into the area, eventually powering his shot over.

United responded and brought on their own exciting youngster in the form of Javier Hernandez, the striker to fail to make an impact as he struggled to adapt to a ferociously defensive City display.

Tension mounted as the clock ran down, with City players and fans remembering all too well the three injury time winners they had to suffer at the hands of United last season. But there was not to be a repeat of that heartache as City defended manfully. Mancini will be happy with a point and feel his side are becoming genuine title contenders. Sir Alex Ferguson will probably think his side could have, yet again, nicked it at the end, but he will not be too down-hearted with the result, as a point is more than Chelsea and Liverpool achieved at Eastlands this season.

Teams:

Man City: Hart, Boateng (Kolarov 80'), K Toure, Kompany, Zabaleta, Y Toure, De Jong, Barry, Silva, Tevez (Adebayor 94'), Milner (Johnson 73').
 

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva (Brown 49'), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (O'Shea 68'), Fletcher, Scholes, Carrick, Nani, Berbatov (Hernandez 78'), Park.

Final Scoreline: Manchester City 0 - 0 Manchester United

File Photograph Copyright: Alfonso Jimenez

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