Manchester City vs Manchester United as it happened: Ten-man United hold on for a goalless draw
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United held on for a goalless draw in a feisty derby with Manchester City after midfielder Marouane Fellaini was sent off for a headbutt in the Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.
The Belgian was dismissed when, moments after being booked for a foul on Sergio Aguero, he tripped the Argentine and then, in clear view of referee Martin Atkinson, confronted him by pushing his forehead towards the City forward who fell.
City, who dominated most of the game, thought they had a late winner when Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, on as a late substitute for his first appearance since being injured in February, headed home from close range but was offside.
The result leaves City in fourth place, still a point - and a place - ahead of their local rivals in the race for a top-four finish and Champions League qualifying spot, and extends United's unbeaten run to 24 league games.
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What time does it start?
Manchester City vs Manchester United kicks off at 20:00
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports 1 from 19:00. Highlights will be shown at 12am on Sky Sports 1.
It’s a big game for…
Sergio Agüero. The prolific Argentine was controversially dropped for new signing Gabriel Jesus, before being recalled after the 20-year-old Brazilian fractured his metatarsal in February. With Jesus on the verge of a full recovery, Agüero is running out of opportunities to prove to Guardiola that he is still the man to lead the line for City.
Weird stat…
Despite emerging victorious in their last encounter in the EFL Cup in October, Jose Mourinho has won only four of his 18 meetings with Pep Guardiola.
Remember when…
Vincent Kompany’s header gave City a 1-0 win over United to put them firmly in charge of the title race in the 2011/12 season. The win put City top of the league on goal difference, just three weeks after they trailed United by eight points. City’s captain has returned to the starting eleven in recent weeks and will be hoping to inspire his team to another famous derby win on Thursday.
Player to watch…
Marcus Rashford. The youngster was rested for Manchester United’s 2-0 win at Burnley on Sunday, presumably to keep him fresh for the derby on Thursday. The 19-year-old has impressed in recent weeks in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, scoring against Chelsea in the league and clinching the winner against Anderlecht to send United into the semi-final of the Europa League.
Past three-meetings…
Manchester United 1 Manchester City 0, EFL Cup October 2016
Manchester United 1 Manchester City 2, Premier League September 2016
Manchester City 0 Manchester United 1, Premier League March 2016
Form guide…
Manchester City: DDLWWL
Manchester United: DWDWWW
Odds…
Manchester City to win: 87/100
Manchester United to win: 13/4
Draw: 27/10
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
This is fairly disastrous news for the home team:
City will no doubt miss his creativity, with Guardiola turning to a beefed up midfield featuring both Fernandinho and Yaya Toure in his absence.
It will be interesting to see how those two, not to mention 31-year-olds Kompany and Kolarov, fare against the pace of Rashford and Martial. Expect goals.
Jose Mourinho has just been interviewed on Sky Sports and has kindly explained his team selection:
Paul cannot play because he's injured so that's an obvious change, Mkhitaryan, Carrick, Rashford and Valencia didn't play the last game and we are rotating players, giving rest to some players.
And also it's because of strategy. [Martial] had a good performance, he's not playing many matches during the season, not 90 minutes so he's in a good condition and of course we want Martial and Rashford fresh in this match to create solutions.
I expect them to have more possession because that's the way they normally play. We want the ball and we also normally have the ball but honestly I think they will have more of the ball because that is how they play.
If we think too much about Europa League we will lose qualities for these games. It is our main target.
United have just appeared on the pitch at the Etihad to a chorus of boos, predictably.
Rooney trotted out on his own a little after his team-mates to the loudest jeer of the evening.
Pep's just been interviewed on the box and here's what he had to say about the streets of Manchester:
They are so fast in front, they are going to attack right in behind. They are a tough team.
We have five more games so will be tough every game.
I think it will be important, I'm not too much on the street to see the people but I know what it means.
Here come the players! The pre-match handshake hullabaloo is out the way and we're moments away from kick-off.
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