Manchester City v Manchester United Premier League Sunday 2nd October 2022

This was the 188^th Manchester Derby in the Premier League. It was United’s first game in 2 weeks due to their last two matches being postponed, and Man City were under a little pressure as they were four points off the top, so could City win again, or could United continue their momentum from their last 4 games?

It was played at the Etihad Stadium

After three minutes, Haaland headed ball back for De Bruyne to shoot, parried by De Gea, came out to Silva and shot blocked by United bodies.

Four minutes later, Silva cross headed towards goal by Haaland but McTominay got back to clear off line only as far as De Bruyne who shot straight at De Gea, Silva should have done better with rebound.

1^st City goal- Foden scored

A minute later, Foden started the move and followed his run , wasn’t followed by Eriksen , played wide to Silva who cutback and Foden swept home, the local boy scored and City ahead.

After 11 minutes, poor touch by Cancelo nearly let Rashford in but poor touch let him down.

Then, a freekick crossed in towards Ake at far post, but Eriksen cleared.

On the quarter hour, half chance for United as Fernandes saw Sancho’s run but Walker’s mistake while clearing ball allowed it to reach its target, Sancho sized Walker up and brought Eriksen onto the ball but lost footing and couldn’t get a significant shot away.

After 19 minutes, Gundogan took a freekick and went for goal but his effort smacked off post, left De Gea rooted.

Two minutes later, Grealish found Silva , cutback evaded Haaland but not Foden who controlled, swivelled and fired just wide of De Gea’s right hand post.

Just before the half hour, City knocked it round before Grealish wriggled free of Dalot to set De Bruyne up on edge of box, but just shot wide.

Just after the half hour, Varane went down and United furious as they wanted ball out of play, Grealish’s shot blocked, Foden’s shot blocked by Varane and finally De Bruyne’s shot tipped over by De Gea.

2^nd City goal- Haaland’s 1^st derby goal and 15^th already for City

A couple of minutes later, De Bruyne’s corner hung up, Haaland rose above Eriksen and Haaland powered his header over the line, Malacia tried to keep it out but couldn’t.

3^rd City goal- Haaland’s 2^nd

Three minutes later, it was 3-0 as De Bruyne put in a beautiful cross low from the right between De Gea and Varane and Haaland slid across surface to plant his big left boot on cross and stud it past De Gea from close range.

Just after that, Gary Neville said in commentary “”The Manchester United players have bottled it, there’s no doubt.

“On the ball, they have given it away all the time. They have been really nervous. They have just not handled this derby at all.”

A couple of minutes before halftime, Haaland turned provider as drove into space before inviting Grealish to shoot, but he tried cutting back to Haaland and lay-off surprised him, chance gone.

4^th City goal- Foden’s 2^nd

A minute later , it was another City goal as De Bruyne started move as he picked Haaland out down left, Haaland looked up and saw the run of Foden at far post, away from Malacia and Haaland put in a De Bruyne-esque cross swept home by Foden for his 2^nd and City’s 4^th. Super football by City, United getting a doing over again.

In the 2^nd minute of stoppage time, Eriksen brought in Fernandes who tried luck from a acute angle and from range, no trouble for Ederson , and United fans streamed out of the Etihad, they’d had enough.

More comments by Neville: “I expected so much more from United.

“There has been no composure. They have never settled. They have been anxious and nervous on the ball.

“They have been pulled apart by an outstanding football team.”

Roy Keane similar saying he couldn’t believe how bad Man United were

Halftime score: Manchester City 4-0 Manchester United

Back to the Brighton and Brentford performance levels rather than the previous 4 games, United embarrassed but give credit to City, they’re brilliant. Could United get something out of the 2^nd half?

A minute into the 2^nd half, Shaw hesitated which allowed Foden to nip in, went for goal from the angle and De Gea’s parry thankfully fell to a red shirt.

After 54 minutes, for once United looked purposeful only for Dalot to pick Shaw out, Shaw looked for overlapping pass but Cancelo read the pass.

1^st United goal- Antony scored

After 54 minutes United scored as  Eriksen spreaded ball to Antony , misjudged by Grealish and Antony curled a brilliant 25 yard strike into far corner beyond Ederson’s dive, consolation for United?

After 64 minutes, Bernardo spotted Haaland’s run, huge strides took him away from Martinez but snapshot low with left foot into side netting.

5^th City goal- Haaland’s hat trick

A minute later, it was  a 3rd hat trick in 3 home games for Haaland, build up play excellent again involving Grealish and De Bruyne , and Gomez’s low cross hit with power and precision past De Gea by Haaland.

After 72 minutes, Fred into action as found Antony in space , Casemiro wanted layoff to go to him, but Antony went it alone but dragged shot wide.

6^th City goal- Foden’s hat trick

Foden took ball on the turn and buried shot past De Gea and was onside , time stood still but Shaw’s back leg played him onside , Haaland’s pass into feet was good, brief VAR check and goal stood.

2^nd United goal- Martial’s header

With eight minutes left, United had their 2^nd as Fred got shot away having been found inside box, Ederson kept it out but ball popped up for Martial in front of Laporte to nod  it over line.

After 86 minutes , Alvarez’s shot kept out by De Gea at near post before Laporte rose from corner but headed over.

Three minutes later, Casemiro’s shot from distance palmed out by Ederson.

United penalty and 3^rd goal- Martial scored top corner

 In the 90^th minute, Cancelo nibbled at Martial’s ankle and ref pointed to the spot, and the penalty fired into the top corner, Ederson wasn’t stopping it and at least United won the 2^nd half.

Fulltime score: Manchester City 6-3 Manchester United

United won the 2^nd half to get a bit of respectability back, but the damage was done 1^st half, again some United players looked like they didn’t want to play for the shirt, you’re meant to leave everything on the pitch in a derby, but City too good.

United are 6^th in the table on 12 points.

Highlights of this game are at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1VmGAzAglc

Next for United is their 3^rd Europa League game against Omonia Nicosia on Thursday 6^th October with a 5:45pm kickoff.

Manchester United v Southampton Premier League Tuesday 2nd February 2021

This was another chance for Manchester United to kickstart their home form against a Southampton team who have lost a bit of form and were depleted coming into this game, so would Manchester United score some goals at home and go level on points with Man City, although Man City do have 2 games in hand.

It was played at Old Trafford

Disastrous start for Southampton

After just 2 minutes, it was the worst possible start for Southampton as Jankewitz caught McTominay high up on the thigh with a nasty, high challenge and the red card came out. Could United now take advantage of having a man advantage?

Six minutes later, Fred was 25 yards out , he opened his body up and went for goal, but it went a few yards high and wide.

After a quarter of a hour, McTominay curled one in from the right, aimed for Fred and Cavani, but Bednarek just flicked it away.

1^st United goal

Three minutes later, Lindelof spread it to Rashford on the left, he gave it to Shaw and his lovely ball flew over Bertrand’s head and Wan-Bissaka arrived at the far post to finish past McCarthy, and United had their first goal.

After 23 minutes a freekick was taken by Shaw, it reached Lindelof but turned it wide.

2^nd United goal

Two minutes later, United doubled their lead as Maguire found Shaw , he darted past Djenepo and fed Greenwood at the byline, Greenwood pulled it back for Rashford on the penalty spot, and he opened his body up and directed it past McCarthy.  This was going to be a long, long night for Southampton.

Four minutes later, Southampton had a freekick which Ward-Prowse took, he went for top right rather than top left over the wall and De Gea tipped it over well.

After 33 minutes, Fernandes tried a shot from 25 yards out, it was curling for bottom corner but McCarthy got down well to save, the corner came to nothing.

A minute later, there was a wonderful ball from Fernandes from the right, it was a wonderful header over by Stephens, the resulting corner fell to Shaw who drove it into the ground, McCarthy saved at the enar post.

3^rd Man United goal

In the same minute, United had their third goal as Rashford had space on the right side of the box, he curled a wicked cross in and Bednarek reached it 1^st but he stuck a leg out and diverted it into his own net.

After 39 minutes, another dangerous United attack as Fernandes flick was brilliant for Wan-Bissaka who powered past Stephens , he crossed and Cavani fluffed his effort from 6 yards out.

4^th United goal

In the same minute, United had their 4^th of the evening and Southampton were crumbling. Shaw with a wicked delivery from the left again, he found Cavani in between Stephens and Bertrand and Cavani powered a header into the left corner past McCarthy.

Penalty to United or was it?

After 42 minutes, Cavani piled his way through, he was challenged by Ramsay, the referee pointed to the penalty spot.  VAR had a look , because it may have JUST been outside the box, but it did look on the line. VAR said no penalty as they thought it was just outide the box, which meant freekick for United.

After 45 minutes, Fernandes took the freekick, he went low under the wall, the ball bounced off the wall and Maguire for a goalkick.

Halftime score: Manchester United 4-0 Southampton

It was a wonderful first half from Manchester United, albeit Southampton weren’t helped by the stupid challenge 2 minutes in, but United took full advantage and scored 4 first half goals. I feared for Southampton it could end up a similar score to when they played Leicester last season, so would the night get even better for United and even more painful for Southampton in the 2^nd half?

After 50 minutes, it was another well worked move by United and Maguire fed Martial who played a nice 1-2 with Fernandes but his shot blocked.

Southampton goal ruled out

After 53 minutes, Southampton had a freekick, it was taken quickly , Adams got into the box, his first shot was blocked by Wan-Bissaka , he got a 2^nd chance and he squeezed it in from an angle. The goal was ruled out for offside.

Just before the hour mark, Fernandes tested Mccarthy  from the edge of the box, the ball bounced just in front of McCarthy and he gathered as Van de Beek was looking to pounce.

Fifth United goal

After 69 minutes yet another goal for Man United as Fernandes clipped a well-weighted ball through to Martial in the box. Martial was onside and he wrestled Bednarek  away, he turned and shot and it flew into the roof of the net, how many more were United going to get?.

Sixth United goal

With 19 minutes to go, a sixth goal went in for United as Greenwood at an angle forced a good save by McCarthy, but the ball squirmed to McTominay 25 yards from goal, he ran onto it, controlled his effort and it flew into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later, a rare Southampton chance as Redmond squared to Adams in space in the box but he blazed over.

With fifteen minutes to Martial was released through on goal, McCarthy rushed out and Martial dinked it over him but the ball dropped just wide of the far post.

After 78 minutes McTominay found Martial on the edge of the box but he was crowded out this time. The ball fell to Fernandes who curled an effort just wide.

Penalty to United and another red card for Southampton

After 83 minutes Martial took a tumble after little contact from Bednarek and the referee gave a penalty. VAR looked at it 20 times, then they told the referee to look at it himself. Eventually the referee gave the penalty and sent Bednarek off to make things even worse for an already depleted Southampton, although his sending off was a bit harsher than the 1^st sending off.

7^th United goal

Because it took about 4 minutes for VAR to sort it out, the penalty wasn’t taken for another 4 minutes but once it was taken Fernandes sent McCarthy diving to his left while slotting the penalty away in the other direction, this was really good from United, really painful from Southampton.

8^th United goal

After 90 minutes, United made it EIGHT as Wan-Bissaka whipped a cross in from the right, and Martial had time to chest it down and smashed it home from close range.

After 90+2 minutes Greenwood crossed from deep out on the right and Martial couldn’t quite get enough of it.

NINTH United goal

After 90+3 minutes Southampton’s misery was complete as another cross from the right and Fernandes cushioned the header into the path of James who finished from very close range.

Fulltime score: Manchester United 9 (NINE)-0 Southampton

What can I say a ruthless performance from Manchester United against a depleted Southampton team.

I never thought I’d have to write a match report where one of my teams  scored nine goals.

It’s the first time in a top division game Manchester United put nine past an opponent since 1995 when they put nine past Ipswich Town.  It certainly helped United’s goal difference. It was a memorable night for all Man United fans.

Highlights of this incredible performance for United  are at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2NDfyQHIhY

It means Manchester United are joint top with Man City on 44 points, but Man City have 2 games in hand. Man City’s goal difference at time of writing is +24, United have got theirs up to +19.

Next for Man United is a home game with Everton on Saturday 6^th February with an  8pm kickoff where I assume there will be a minutes silence as it’s the anniversary of the Munich Air disaster.