September
City 4 Manchester United 1
September 22nd 2013 47,156
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WH Smith and the City shop
This was a magnificent team performance by City and United were outplayed from the first whistle. This master class effort by the sky blues made our rivals look pretty poor at times. It will give the City players a great lift for the rest of the season. United did not have much heart for the battle whereas Kompany in the heart of the defence was tremendous and he gave inspiration to the rest of the team. The defence generally played well and Joe Hart was rarely troubled in goal.
The City passing was excellent today and Samir Nasri had easily his best ever game for City. He was inspirational in mid-field and fully deserved the goal he got in the second half. We bossed the match in the centre of the park and caused lots of problems for the united defence. Aguero scored twice and looked back to his best form while Negredo showed some magnificent touches and his linage with Aguero was a key factor in City's dominance. Navas too had a good game - his impressive pace always causing problems and he made the 4th goal. One must not forget the efforts of our unseen assassin in mid-field - Fernandinho or the runs and passes of Yaya Toure either.
How much the absence of Van Persie affected the United display I don't know but we had both Clichy and Silva missing.
The City team warm up in the strong sunshine
The drummers signal the entrance of the teams
Negredo was preferred to Dzeko but Silva was still injured. No Van Persie for United!
It was a packed Etihad Stadium at kick-off time
A little bit of United pressure was easily dealt with by the City defence
United manage to clear an early City corner
Navas shoots over the bar after just 4 minutes
Smalling goes down and Nastasic ends up with an early yellow card - a bit harsh I thought
On 14 minutes Rooney fouls Aguero but United clear the free -kick......
.....but City are back on the attack again and a great cross by Kolarov is volleyed past the keeper by Aguero to give City an early lead after 15 minutes.
It was a great bit of skill as the ball came slightly behind him but what a goal and the celebrations started
This was just the start City wanted and even the bench were happy
City clear a United corner
Neither Bobby Charlton nor Van Persie look happy in the directors box!
On 19 minutes a shot from Nasri goes just over the bar
Rooney tries an unusual challenge on Kompany and is spoken too by Referee Webb but no card yet -
it's coming though
City appeal for handball against Fellaini but nothing doing!
At last - a yellow card for Rooney better late than never
Young obviously missing his diving instructor makes a back for Zabaleta
Just before half time a corner to city was headed by Negredo to the unmarked Yaya Toure who scored easily. Sorry about the lack of celebration pics but as the ball was headed the battery on the camera failed!
Still always good to have a spare! So two nil at half time and there was more to come
right at the start of the second half a brilliant cross by Negredo was hammered home by Aguero to make it three nil .Amazing stuff by City !
The atmosphere was terrific as players and supporters celebrated a third goal
everybody - save the keeper of course came to congratulate the scorer
Joe Hart makes an easy catch
a few minutes later and Navas picks up the ball in his own half and dashes into the United half belatedly pursued by Fellani....
Navas's cross is met by Nasri and bang- it's into the net for number 4 - Wow can I be dreaming!
Skipper Vincent Kompany who also had charged down the pitch lets the crowd know how he feels and Nasri celebrates
What has happed to Nasri - why can't he play like this every game ? Today he was magnificent
The City supporters in the South Stand let the visitors know what the core is!
United manage to avoid a goal this time
There are a lot of unhappy United supporters at the moment
Rooney shoots over and the United bench look even more depressed!
Yaya Toure on another run
United manage to clear a City corner
On 67 minutes Joe Hart has to make his first proper save - from Fellaini
Dzeko - on for Negredo after 74 minutes has a shot ....
...which the keeper almost failed to stop entering the net
Kolarov needs a bit of help
He has to watch from the touchline as ten men City clear a corner
On 86 minutes Aguero is subbed by Garcia and is thanked for his efforts by the manager -
With just 4 minutes to go United score with a good free kick by Rooney and so ended a splendid victory for City 4-1
team
Hart 7, Zabaleta 7.5, Kompany 9 ,Nastasic 7.5, Kolarov 7.5 :
Yaya Toure 8, Fernandinho 7.5,
Navas 7.5 ( Milner 7), Nasri 9, Aguero 8.5 (Garcia) Negredo 8.5 (Dzeko)
