NAY WAY
Man Utd 2 Man City 0: McTominay stunner seals derby double to bolster Red Devils’ Champions League credentials
TWO moments of genius from Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay inspired Manchester United to a third derby victory in as many months - and left Liverpool just two wins away from the Premier League title.
With an assist that owed as much to Seve Ballesteros as any elite footballer, Fernandes produced a deft pitching-wedge of a free-kick to tee up Anthony Martial’s opener as United extended their unbeaten run to ten matches.
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A 2-0 victory - and league derby double - was then sealed in the final seconds when McTominay fully announced his return from injury by opportunistically smashing home from 40 yards.
While City dominated possession, United played with a verve and purpose which merited a victory to secure a league double over Pep Guardiola’s fallen champions.
And again it was Fernandes who made the difference - the £55million January signing from Sporting Lisbon having played a major role in transforming United’s season.
United might still need Manchester City’s lawyers to fail in an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn their two-year European ban if they are to return to Champions League football next term.
But even if their current fifth place is not enough, United are putting significant pressure on Chelsea, and, even Leicester City, in the contest for third and fourth.
Guardiola’s perfect record of three Premier League wins from three at Old Trafford was ended by Martial’s 30th-minute strike.
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And City’s defeat means Liverpool are likely to be crowned champions on March 21, when they entertain Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Guardiola handed Phil Foden only the sixth Premier League start of his career and the 19-year-old was soon teeing up Raheem Sterling for a shot which was beaten away by David De Gea.
But United soon took a grip on the first half - Aaron Wan-Bissaka outstanding at right wing-back, Fred a player transformed in central midfield and, above all, Fernandes providing the supreme creative
spark that Old Trafford has been missing for so much of the post-Ferguson era.
Fernandes played in Dan James for an effort saved by Ederson, then Martial turned Fernandinho inside before he shot straight at City’s Brazilian keeper.
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On the half-hour, United were ahead, Fernandes drawing a foul from Ilkay Gundogan then producing a glorious chipped free-kick which Martial met with a scuffed volley which embarrassed Ederson, beating
him at his near post.
The volume levels went through the roof - a rarity here in recent years - and Fernandes soon screwed a header narrowly wide.
Fred was harshly booked for diving when United felt they should have had a penalty for a foul by Nicolas Otamendi - the Argentine having one of those days where he appeared to be wearing banana-skin boots.
After the break, Aguero was denied an equaliser by a marginal offside decision, upheld by VAR.
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But almost immediately, Ederson almost suffered further embarrassment when he failed to control a routine Joao Cancelo back-pass and had to tackle Martial to prevent the United striker tapping over the line.
Foden, who had been quiet, forced De Gea to tip over the bar with a fierce long-ranger.
Guardiola hauled off Aguero and Bernardo Silva, bringing on Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez before the hour mark.
James kippered Otamendi and unleashed a stinging shot which was pushed over by Ederson - but Sterling missed a glaring chance from a Mahrez centre and United held on.
And Ederson's miserable afternoon was compounded when his attempted clearance went straight to United sub Scott McTominay who netted with an opportunist first-time finish from the right flank.
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