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Match Reports

The Power Remains With United

Tensions were high before the game and the anticipation epic, but what transpired at Eastlands was a dour affair with barely any excitement or any decent strikes on goal.

United though did have the better of the game and managed a measly seven attempts at goal all night, with four of them on target. The pick was of course Dimitar Berbatov’s scissor-kick, though that went straight at Joe Hart in the City goal.

One positive to come out of the match at least is that United have extended their unbeaten run to twelve matches.

Ferdinand and Vidic dealt with Tevez comfortably, and United who were the more adventurous of the two sides failed to break through a stubborn City defence.

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted after the game that City are a tough side to beat on their own patch, “I think there was too much tension for it to be the kind of match people thought it would be. But I was pleased with the control we had of the game and some of our football was very good.

“We were very confident and composed on the ball but we needed to make chances, we needed to win the match and in that sense we only had two chances, one in the first half and one in the second half. That was a disappointment.

“They set their stall out very well in the second half and made it difficult for us to break them down. They are very powerful and experienced in that way.” He concluded.

The game was certainly one for the defences as Nemanja Vidic agreed, “We saw today two teams who were defending very well and I think today was a fair result,” Vidic said.

With lazy challenges littering the game, there was a lack of flow to the encounter but for a brief moment it seemed as if Tevez and Rafael would spark the game into life. This didn’t happen.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini summed up the game, “I think we’re getting closer to Manchester United. I think we need more time,” said the Italian.

“I think we are improving from last year.

“I prefer one point tonight to no points last year, when we scored goals against them but lost. We lost three derbies last year in the last minute so I was nervous at the end.

“When you play against United you can easily lose because if you give them a chance to score, they will score,” Mancini continued.

“I wanted to win this game, but sometimes it is better to draw than to lose like last year. We played to win this game.”

Watching the game you would be hard pressed to say they tried to win the match, they may have liked to but as an attacking threat they were limited and at times hesitant to throw men forward.

As City fans continue to proclaim a power shift in Manchester, I think we can safely say that they are still behind United.