It was only worth three points, but Manchester United’s win could be a hammer blow to Manchester City, with their extended unbeaten run at home ended and a six point gap opened up at the top.
Last season the first Manchester derby of the season saw City come away from Old Trafford with an unbelievable 6-1 win. The result was tighter this weekend, but the effect on the title race could be equally huge.
Manchester United now sit six points clear of their bitter rivals. They have weaknesses in their defence that should be critical and they still don’t have an outstanding central midfielder, but they do have the best strike partnership in the league.
Rooney and van Persie won them the points again yesterday, and you would expect them to keep doing so all season. If they don’t, there’s always Hernandez and Welbeck to try. The strength of their attacking play has led to United winning away at both Manchester City and Chelsea this season, with 3-2 wins in each match against their presumed title rivals.
For City, the result will be devastating, not only because of the late winner, but because of their all round performance. Although the result was tight in the end, they could have been 3-0 down if Young hadn’t been flagged offside. With this loss they lose their two year unbeaten record at home, and the good feeling they had maintained from their league wins over United last season.
It could get even worse if Kompany’s injury is severe, with Kolo Toure looking inadequate as his replacement. Questions have to be asked about Mancini not putting Lescott on, and also about his needlessly stroppy substitution of Balotelli after a misplaced back heel.
He clearly had a reason to leave Balotelli on for the second half, to change that plan in the manner he did is not the mark of clear thinking, despite Tevez’s impact on the game.
It will be very interesting to see how City come back from this week, with the home derby loss coming on the back of their ignominious exit from Europe on Tuesday. Mancini’s position will come under increasing scrutiny, and if his side don’t return good results over Christmas then City could be set for plenty of upheaval in the New Year.
images: © Andrea Sartorati, © marcel sigg
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